Rory McIlroy's ex agent blames Open misery on 'messy life' and 'marriage problems'

Rory McIlroy's former agent Chubby Chandler believes the Northern Irishman's current 'messy life' has played a pivotal role in him missing the cut at this week's 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon, following an interview with talkSPORT. 

McIlroy, 35, announced to the shock of the golf world two months ago, just days before the start of the US PGA at Valhalla, that he had filed for divorce with wife Erica Stoll.

Only four weeks later, the World No.2 confirmed divorce papers were off the table as the couple, who share a young daughter Poppy, had sorted out their differences. 

The update on his private life also appeared to burst a social media bubble that McIlroy had been building a romance with CBS reporter Amanda Balionis, who has also reportedly been going through a divorce. 

Erica was last week seen for the first time in months following McIlroy around a golf course at the Genesis Scottish Open in North Berwick. 

But there was allegedly no sign of Erica at Royal Troon this week, according to unsubstiantiated social media reports. 

Dustin Johnson's wife Paulina Gretzky hasn't been on site either, but the LIV Golf star revealed a hilarious reason for that call. 

But back to the top of the story, and the thoughts of McIlroy's former agent Chandler, who has hit out at his former boss following his latest collapse on the major stage. 

After watching McIlroy slump to rounds of 78 and 75 to miss the cut at The Open by five shots, Chandler considers there is just far too much going on in the Ulsterman's life right now with which he can concentrate fully on playing golf at the highest level. 

On top of his divorce U-turn in recent weeks, McIlroy missed two short putts on the closing holes to hand Bryson DeChamebeau the US Open last month.

McIlroy arguably threw away his best chance to end 10 years of hurt in the majors, and he knew it instantly as he stormed out of Pinehurst.

As a result he took three weeks out of competitive action to get his head straight, and to his credit returned with a T4 at the Scottish Open last week. 

Ahead of The Open, the 26-time PGA Tour winner claimed he wanted to become much less hard on himself during tough defeats. 

He also revealed he wanted to take a holiday, something he said he has not done properly for the best part of five years. 

But sadly for McIlroy, the trials and tribulations of the past couple of months appeared to get the better of him at Royal Troon.

At an unthinkable 11-over par for two rounds, McIlroy bowed out of The Open for the first time before the weekend since 2019 and for just the third time overall in 15 Open starts. 

He even smashed himself in the face as he exited stage left on the famed Ayrshire links. 

Speaking to talkSPORT, Chandler, who was McIlroy's first manager up until 2011, admits he never felt confident McIlroy would contend in the final major of the season at Royal Troon.

Chandler considers McIlroy's divorce U-turn and heavy involvement in all things PGA Tour vs LIV Golf has contributed to him taking his eye off the ball in the majors this season.

Scroll down for Chubby's comments...

Chandler said: 

"The top, top players obviously play better more often, and then the really top players take their chances. That's all that's happened with Rory.

"Rory's played fantastically for 10 years, he just doesn't take any chances.

"Looking from the outside, and I haven't seen Rory for a couple of years, but to me it looks like his life is messy. 

"You know what it's like as a sportsman, you have to have total focus and keep your mind on what you're doing.

"But it looks like Rory has spent a year and a half fighting LIV for the PGA Tour, then the PGA Tour pulled the rug from under him, then he started talking about LIV not being too bad, then he had his marriage problems, and then he's got such media scrutiny because he hasn't won a major in 10 years.

"So he just can't get away from it. I think his life is really messy."

McIlroy departed Chandler's International Sports Management (ISM) back in 2011. 

After landing his first major at the 2011 US Open, McIlroy went on to notch three more at the 2012 US PGA, 2014 Open and 2014 US PGA. 

But there have been no more since. 

McIlroy's last major win came exactly 10 years ago next month, but of course there are no more majors left on the schedule in 2024.

So the tape recorder will be out for an 11th consecutive season come April 2025.

McIlroy was looking to complete the career grand slam at The Masters in April but he went on to disappoint again at Augusta National with a fairly lacklustre T22.

He then finished T12 at the US PGA, the week of him announcing his divorce, before finishing second at the US Open, during a week where he confirmed he was back in a happy marriage.

As Chandler casts his mind back some 17 years to when he was first working as McIlroy's agent, he admits "his life wasn't messy then". 

Only that is just a way of life, he concludes. 

Chandler said: 

"At The Open at Carnoustie, I think it was 2007, he was three months away from turning pro and we had a meeting on the patio at Carnoustie, and he bought a house before he actually made any money.

"His contracts were going to be so good in three months' time that he sat down and he said, ‘I want to buy a house’ - I'd never heard a kid like that say that. And that’s what he did, he bought a house before he turned pro. He had the money coming, you know, his contract with Jumeirah Hotels, Titleist, whatever.

"He was just a focused kid who wanted to be the best player in the world, he just wanted to win majors, but then as he's got older - and everybody, to be fair, as they get older your life gets messier, doesn't it? You've got family, you've got wives, you've got business, you've got investment. Things get messier.

"I think his life has got messy."

McIlroy will now be heading on vacation with his family, before turning his attentions to the Olympic Games in Paris where he will represent Ireland alongside current 36-hole Open leader Shane Lowry.

Lowry is this weekend looking to etch his name on the famous Claret Jug for a second time in his career following victory at Portrush in 2019. 

What exactly did McIlroy have to say about his disappointing week at The Open? 

Find out here.