Rory McIlroy's former agent rips into his latest PGA Tour / LIV Golf idea
Chubby Chandler believes Rory McIlroy has "performed the most unbelievable 180 turn" in his stance on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
Rory McIlroy's former manager Chubby Chandler believes the four-time major champion has "performed the most unbelievable 180 turn" in his stance on all things PGA Tour and LIV Golf in 2024.
Chandler made his feelings be known about McIlroy in an exclusive interview with GolfMagic and InstantCasinos.com.
McIlroy parted ways with Chandler in October 2011, several months after earning his first major title at the US Open.
He later told Irishgolfdesk.com: "I felt like the path I was going down wasn't the path I wanted to go down."
McIlroy was understood to have regretted giving up his PGA Tour card at the end of 2010, as well as passing up the opportunity to compete in the 2011 Players Championship at famed TPC Sawgrass.
Since then, it's fair to say McIlroy and Chander have never quite seen eye-to-eye.
Ex-manager Chubby Chandler slams Rory McIlroy as PGA Tour ‘mouthpiece’ following Masters drama https://t.co/NWWolccsIz pic.twitter.com/NE8W4vO7PU
— New York Post (@nypost) April 16, 2023
Fast forward to 2024, and while Chandler holds no grudge against McIlroy, he does question the Ulsterman's latest comments in light of the changing landscape of professional golf.
McIlroy has arguably been the strongest PGA Tour player critic of the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf League, citing it was "dead in the water" when it first emerged in 2022.
He also had doubts that suspended PGA Tour members who diverted to LIV Golf should ever be able to return to the circuit.
But heading into the start of this season, McIlroy, who has now stepped down from his lead role as a player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board, has eased his criticism of LIV.
Not just a little but a lot.
After watching his European Ryder Cup teammates Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton switch to the LIV Golf League this season, McIlroy now believes PGA Tour members should be able to "come back and play".
Last month, McIlroy told the media he wants the PGA Tour and LIV to come together to create a Champions League of Golf.
Chandler is not only baffled by McIlroy's radical change of opinion about the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, but also how he can come up with the exact same idea as LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman in 1995.
Norman wanted to achieve a world golf tour some 20 years ago but was soon refused.
Speaking exclusively to GolfMagic, McIlroy's former manager Chandler said:
Despite Chandler's latest criticism of McIlroy, he does consider the Northern Irishman has his best chance of completing the career grand slam this season as a result of walking away from the PGA Tour Policy Board.
Chandler would love to see McIlroy get back to basics though at Augusta this April:
Chandler was speaking in association with InstantCasinos.com
Will Rory McIlroy win The Masters and complete the career grand slam in 2024? What do you make of Chandler's comments about McIlroy? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
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