PGA Tour veteran told by Rory McIlroy: "You're criticising your own product!"

Rory McIlroy has responded to the explosive letter Charley Hoffman penned to the PGA Tour's membership that many believed was aimed at the Northern Irishman. 

Hoffman sent a lengthy email to the North American circuit's members on Sunday evening as McIlroy grabbed his 27th Tour title at Pebble Beach. 

Chief of the Tour veteran's complaints was pace of play and he implored members to finally get a move on amid mounting criticism in recent weeks from fans and even on-course commentators. 

But he also appeared to take a thinly veiled dig at McIlroy when he urged his peers to consider committing to more PGA Tour events. 

"Many of you keep saying you want to play fewer events, yet you still find time for TGL, Race to Dubai, and other non-PGA Tour events," Hoffman wrote, alluding to McIlroy's desire to a stripped-back schedule after doing 'the hard slog' when he was in his 20s. 

McIlroy told reporters after his Boston Common side lost their second TGL fixture against Los Angeles on Tuesday that Hoffman forgot to mention the Tour owns 20 per cent of the hi-tech league. 

"So he's criticising his own product," McIlroy said. 

"They also own a good chunk of European Tour Productions, so again - I thought some of the elements of the letter were fine, addressed some issues."

Hoffman also took issue with the meritocracy of signature events. 

Fields are limited for only the very best and the most in-form players via the Aon Swing 5. There are also sponsor invites. 

Hoffman just missed out on a spot in the field at the $20m Pebble Beach Pro-Am, finishing sixth in the Swing 5. 

"This Tour was built on open competition, where anyone with the game to compete has a chance to prove it against the best," he wrote.  

"That's what has made our Tour special for generations, and we need to keep pushing for that.

"At the end of the year, only 100 of us will keep our cards. We all start the season at zero in the FedEx Cup Point standings, and every single one of us has the chance to be the FedEx Cup champion. 

"Let's come together, put on a great show for our fans by giving them the strongest competitions, and keep the PGA Tour moving in the right direction."

Would Hoffman have grumbled had he been in the field? "He was sixth in that," McIlroy said. 

Despite Hoffman's complaints, McIlroy said some of the issues raised by the 48-year-old were fine.  

"He talks about having it be for the good of the Tour, but he's also talking about himself, as well," he said.  

"I thought a couple of them were pointed at me a little bit because TGL, Race to Dubai, non-PGA Tour events like the Showdown that Scottie and I did in December, I've been vocal about not wanting to play quite as much so it seemed like it was pointed at me.

"Look, what every player has to do is look out for themselves. 

"We have to do what's best for our own individual careers, and yes, at the back of our mind try to do whatever we can to help the Tour, but I think the best way for any of us to help the Tour is to tee it up and play as best we can."

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