Rory McIlroy to skip 'hassle' of Masters Par 3

Dbu

Seems a bit odd...Augusta hierarchy may not be happy with the 'hassle' comment. Is he right to skip it?

mickmackmcgoo

It's an hour out of his preparation and a bit of fun so don't see his issue with it. Most bring their kids or friends etc. He brought wozniacki a few times too it. He always came across too me as spoilt and unlikeable anyway and as talented as he is I never took too him. Tiger avoided it many times too but he won 4 of them so maybe there is something in that

crusier

mickmackmcgoo wrote:

It's an hour out of his preparation and a bit of fun so don't see his issue with it. Most bring their kids or friends etc. He brought wozniacki a few times too it. He always came across too me as spoilt and unlikeable anyway and as talented as he is I never took too him. Tiger avoided it many times too but he won 4 of them so maybe there is something in that

I'd say it's a lot more than an hour, shows how serious he is at trying to win the masters, I'd say the girlfriend isn't keen on carrying the bag after Caroline got the boot the following year and the last caddy nearly broke his neck when they met Kirsty Gallagher on the course, better for everyone that he misses it!

Telecaster58

He's dead right. Load of rubbish. There is a tendency in the US for them all to show how much they love their kids by having things like this. Incredibly irritating

ForeRight

This is great to hear. Gives him an extra couple of hours in the gym to get huge before the masters.

Golfgorfield

Good to see him skip this, its a pensioners day out, takes up 3 or 4 hours Wed afternoon. Hes obviously changing his usual plans for the week for some reason. Rightly so, the career grand slam is more important than a game of pitch and putt.

Montgolfier

He's dead right, it a bit of fun and all but time could be better spent on the preperation. Win the masters first then he can play in the carnival.

A Shaved Duck?

mickmackmcgoo wrote: »

It's an hour out of his preparation and a bit of fun so don't see his issue with it. Most bring their kids or friends etc. He brought wozniacki a few times too it. He always came across too me as spoilt and unlikeable anyway and as talented as he is I never took too him. Tiger avoided it many times too but he won 4 of them so maybe there is something in that

Oh yeah based on what exactly... he is one of the few of them that comes across as genuine in any interview ive seen.. refreshingly so.

CMOTDibbler

mickmackmcgoo wrote: »

It's an hour out of his preparation and a bit of fun so don't see his issue with it. Most bring their kids or friends etc. He brought wozniacki a few times too it. He always came across too me as spoilt and unlikeable anyway and as talented as he is I never took too him. Tiger avoided it many times too but he won 4 of them so maybe there is something in that

It's a lot more than an hour and there's a record that says the winner of the Par 3 never won the Masters.

The spoilt comment I really don't get. There's nothing I've ever seen from McIlroy that suggests this. One of the most honest talkers about his game I've ever heard, always has time for the interviews afterwards and comes across as genuine and friendly with a great sense of humour; often at his own expense. Look at how he's treated by his Ryder Cup teammates. Often slagged (like the curly haired wigs at Celtic Manor and the enormous alarm clock at Medinah), but always enters into the spirit of it.

You've really got to explain that one to me.

mickmackmcgoo

A Shaved Duck? wrote:

Oh yeah based on what exactly... he is one of the few of them that comes across as genuine in any interview ive seen.. refreshingly so.

Well for one ,his behaviour towards his previous management company which was greedy on his part in my opinion. He broke up with the girl he was engaged to by phone ! He bent over backwards to a get a strong field in last year's Irish open when it was in the north. This year he is taking a back seat from helping get a stronger field,funny enough it's in the Republic this year.

HighLine

mickmackmcgoo wrote: »

Well for one ,his behaviour towards his previous management company which was greedy on his part in my opinion. He broke up with the girl he was engaged to by phone ! He bent over backwards to a get a strong field in last year's Irish open when it was in the north. This year he is taking a back seat from helping get a stronger field,funny enough it's in the Republic this year.

Rather than waste my time going through point by point, I'll just say....What a load of bullsh*t.

CMOTDibbler

mickmackmcgoo wrote: »

Well for one ,his behaviour towards his previous management company which was greedy on his part in my opinion. He broke up with the girl he was engaged to by phone ! He bent over backwards to a get a strong field in last year's Irish open when it was in the north. This year he is taking a back seat from helping get a stronger field,funny enough it's in the Republic this year.

The deal with his management company is a business decision. People make those all the time, but on the surface, it seemed to me that they were absolutely milking him. Nice money if you can get it, but the level of fees seemed astronomical considering the ease they'd have finding sponsors for him.

There was a lot of fuss about the Irish Open last year because it was the first one he was hosting and had managed to bring in so many big names to. This year not as much fuss but the sponsorship (which was on a one year test) is now settled for three years and the prize fund increased by 60%. I don't know what big names are coming but with that increase in funding, it would certainly be even more attractive.

I'm not seeing any back seats being taken in the above. He's still hosting it and his input has added even bigger value to it when it's being held 'in the republic'.

I'm not getting into the engagement thing. That really is outside anyone's scope to comment on and hardly a topic for the golf forum.

mickmackmcgoo

CMOTDibbler wrote:

The deal with his management company is a business decision. People make those all the time, but on the surface, it seemed to me that they were absolutely milking him. Nice money if you can get it, but the level of fees seemed astronomical considering the ease they'd have finding sponsors for him.

CMOTDibbler wrote:

There was a lot of fuss about the Irish Open last year because it was the first one he was hosting and had managed to bring in so many big names to. This year not as much fuss but the sponsorship (which was on a one year test) is now settled for three years and the prize fund increased by 60%. I don't know what big names are coming but with that increase in funding, it would certainly be even more attractive.

CMOTDibbler wrote:

I'm not seeing any back seats being taken in the above. He's still hosting it and his input has added even bigger value to it when it's being held 'in the republic'.

CMOTDibbler wrote:

The deal with his management company is a business decision. People make those all the time, but on the surface, it seemed to me that they were absolutely milking him. Nice money if you can get it, but the level of fees seemed astronomical considering the ease they'd have finding sponsors for him.

CMOTDibbler wrote:

There was a lot of fuss about the Irish Open last year because it was the first one he was hosting and had managed to bring in so many big names to. This year not as much fuss but the sponsorship (which was on a one year test) is now settled for three years and the prize fund increased by 60%. I don't know what big names are coming but with that increase in funding, it would certainly be even more attractive.

CMOTDibbler wrote:

I'm not seeing any back seats being taken in the above. He's still hosting it and his input has added even bigger value to it when it's being held 'in the republic'.

CMOTDibbler wrote:

I'm not getting into the engagement thing. That really is outside anyone's scope to comment on and hardly a topic for the golf forum.

I was asked for examples and gave some and my opinions of him which I find him unlikeable,some people here can't fathom my opinion of him which seems to really bother them. They are entitled to their opinion too. At least you gave a rebuttle to my points whether we agree or not so fair play to you.

Boskowski

Perfectly fine decision, I can see where he's coming from. Maybe interesting when you're in your first Masters, but I could see how to him it would just look like a 4 hours par 3 round trudging behind and waiting for somebody else kids or model girlfriends. Yawn and cringe and yes a waste of time to him.

Only thing he could have been a little more diplomatic about it. He didn't need to be all that truthful.

Armchair Andy

Fair play to him, switching caddies like that can't be easy. More time for the gym and his shoe design portfolio.

coylemj

Boskowski wrote: »

Only thing he could have been a little more diplomatic about it. He didn't need to be all that truthful.

+1 He could have done like a lot of the Irish soccer internationals and claimed to have a minor injury - one that miraculously heals itself after a day with no treatment!

CMOTDibbler

Boskowski wrote: »

Perfectly fine decision, I can see where he's coming from. Maybe interesting when you're in your first Masters, but I could see how to him it would just look like a 4 hours par 3 round trudging behind and waiting for somebody else kids or model girlfriends. Yawn and cringe and yes a waste of time to him.

Only thing he could have been a little more diplomatic about it. He didn't need to be all that truthful.

He pretty much always is. The only occasion that he wan't iirc was the toothache issue which came back to bite him

vienne86

It always strikes me as a day for kids, so I wouldn't blame him for missing it.

Rikand

ForeRight wrote: »

This is great to hear. Gives him an extra couple of hours in the gym to get huge before the masters.

Speak Now

vienne86 wrote: »

It always strikes me as a day for kids, so I wouldn't blame him for missing it.

You're man that carried his bag last year must be gutted

DellyBelly

Speak Now wrote: »

You're man that carried his bag last year must be gutted

It was Niall Horan that was his caddy last year. He's a member of One direction

CMOTDibbler

The first time I read the thread title I saw it as "Rory McIlroy to skip 'hassle' of Masters Part 3"

Apart from the shock of him skipping the Masters, I also spent a lot of time looking for Parts 1 and 2

A Shaved Duck?

mickmackmcgoo wrote: »

Well for one ,his behaviour towards his previous management company which was greedy on his part in my opinion. He broke up with the girl he was engaged to by phone ! He bent over backwards to a get a strong field in last year's Irish open when it was in the north. This year he is taking a back seat from helping get a stronger field,funny enough it's in the Republic this year.

You should have just said "just because" it would be easier to accept than this horse****.

getoffthepot

coylemj wrote: »

+1 He could have done like a lot of the Irish soccer internationals and claimed to have a minor injury - one that miraculously heals itself after a day with no treatment!

or a tooth ache!

lawred2

mickmackmcgoo wrote: »

Well for one ,his behaviour towards his previous management company which was greedy on his part in my opinion. He broke up with the girl he was engaged to by phone ! He bent over backwards to a get a strong field in last year's Irish open when it was in the north. This year he is taking a back seat from helping get a stronger field,funny enough it's in the Republic this year.

nonsense

satguy

He's just a cry baby,, any excuse to have a whinge ...

Keano

I see we have some trolls now. Get back on topic or you will get a month's ban

alxmorgan

Ah I see the once a year Masters crowd have come early this year :rolleyes:

Felexicon

The Par 3 competition is a bit of a side show to be honest. If Rory feels that extra couple of hours practice/rest is more beneficial to him he'd be silly not to use it.
I will generally watch any level of competitive sport but the Par 3 comp is just a family day out at this stage. Most players are DQd by the second hole anyway

HighLine

The par 3 competition is just like a striptease... does nothing for you but still gets you excited for the imminent main event.

CMOTDibbler

Felexicon wrote: »

The Par 3 competition is a bit of a side show to be honest. If Rory feels that extra couple of hours practice/rest is more beneficial to him he'd be silly not to use it.
I will generally watch any level of competitive sport but the Par 3 comp is just a family day out at this stage. Most players are DQd by the second hole anyway

There's also the farce of players DQ'ing themselves in case they might win it and encounter the dreaded 'curse'.

Boskowski

Ask the girlfriend she'll tell you I'm probably a bit golf mad. I hardly watch any TV only sports, mostly soccer and golf. And I like the majors a lot.
Last year was the first time I watched the par 3 contest. I lasted about 20 minutes.

ForeRight

Boskowski wrote: »

Ask the girlfriend she'll tell you I'm probably a bit golf mad. I hardly watch any TV only sports, mostly soccer and golf. And I like the majors a lot.
Last year was the first time I watched the par 3 contest. I lasted about 20 minutes.

Give us her number and we will ask her

slave1

I was intrigued with this prior to it being televised, now having seen it for a year or two it's all a load of nonsense but no harm, they're trying to get a tradition going and let them off, won't be watching it ever again though.
They should just do a 10minute highlight section with the near hole in ones and footage of Jack and Gary.

CMOTDibbler

slave1 wrote: »

I was intrigued with this prior to it being televised, now having seen it for a year or two it's all a load of nonsense but no harm, they're trying to get a tradition going and let them off, won't be watching it ever again though.
They should just do a 10minute highlight section with the near hole in ones and footage of Jack and Gary.

It's been going since 1960 :eek:

But it's a bit of a distraction really and until somebody actually wins both, it will continue to be a bit of a farce as well.

Minderbinder

His PR is pretty rubbish though and makes him look a bit foolish at times. Remember his Ryder Cup comment which was probably true but then he backtracked on it. Did anyone believe him? Now he's saying this is hassle but I'm sure he'll opt in again in the future. There's a touch of the Stephen Ireland's off him but I suppose if we were all under the microscope we'd be contradicting ourselves a lot too.

Speak Now

At least he doesn't have the hassle and distraction of attending the champions dinner

CMOTDibbler

Speak Now wrote: »

At least he doesn't have the hassle and distraction of attending the champions dinner

It actually is a hassle and distraction. The last champion hosts the dinner and chooses the menu. :pac:

Speak Now

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

It actually is a hassle and distraction. The last champion hosts the dinner and chooses the menu. :pac:

Should be a good Texan barbecue this year. Maybe bacon and cabbage next year when Lowry is hosting

CMOTDibbler

Speak Now wrote: »

Should be a good Texan barbecue this year. Maybe bacon and cabbage next year when Lowry is hosting

Lowry does that. Ever. He's dead to me

Ronney

Not only to the Ex champs get a free dinner they get $10,000 just for showing up without having to play!

I would love to see their Treasures Report at the Club AGM!

sky88

I dont really see this as hassle. it looks like its a bit of fun that might take some of the pressure away form the golfers.

Domo1982

sky88 wrote: »

I dont really see this as hassle. it looks like its a bit of fun that might take some of the pressure away form the golfers.

Agreed. It's part of the tradition for he should be playing it. The way its been handled seems a little disrespectful in my opinion

FixdePitchmark

DellyBelly wrote: »

It was Niall Horan that was his caddy last year. He's a member of One direction

I think this is a good enough reason not to do it this year. All the girlfriend thing as well, was past cringe.

Fair play to him - he is dead right.

Some of the pageantry around the masters is sicking - they go on as if the life they have is a normal American life. All the idealism and bullhit.

Ben Crenshaw had a 91 first round last year - rediculous.

Trump should play in it instead with a mexican caddy - just for the entertainment

CMOTDibbler

Domo1982 wrote: »

Agreed. It's part of the tradition for he should be playing it. The way its been handled seems a little disrespectful in my opinion

Not everybody plays in it. It's a tradition that's only partially honoured by the players and it's certainly not compulsory. It is a hassle and it does distract from the main event. Playing it the day before the event starts couldn't be the best preparation and it's instructive to realise that the last time McIlroy was in contention was the last time he didn't play in it.

valoren

If you're a Masters first timer, or manage to get intermittently invited then playing the Par 3 would be attractive to get the full experience.

Consider this.

You manage to get tickets to the Wednesday practice round.

Are you committed to attending the Par 3 contest in it's entirety or are you roaming the course itself following groups of players practicing?

I would be the latter.

First Up

valoren wrote:

Are you committed to attending the Par 3 contest in it's entirety or are you roaming the course itself following groups of players practicing?

valoren wrote:

I would be the latter.

I've been to it and I can 100% recommend using the time to watch the practice round. The par 3 is a joke.

Its especially instructive to follow players who know the course. Just watching how they plot how they will play holes - working back from flag positions to plan where to leave tee shots.

The course is ridiculously hilly so where you hit from affects stance, type of shot possible etc.

But I still think its the most over-rated course and over-hyped tournament in golf.

Jayop

My my this thread has an awful load of nonsense in it. Agree with all the right minded people who said it's no big deal that he's chosen to miss it. I've read where he talks about why and it all makes sense. He certainly isn't disrespecting the Masters, if anything he's taking it more seriously than ever before.