McIlroy defends comments about Woods, Mickelson aging: 'Don't think there's anything wrong with saying that'
Rory McIlroy, the world's top-ranked golfer, was asked on Wednesday to offer his insight on the decline of two golfers who once dominated the sport like he does, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. He responded with a blunt and straightforward assessment: Woods and Mickelson are getting older.
"[T]hey're getting into the sort of last few holes of their career," McIlroy said. "And that's what happens. You get injured. Phil has to deal with an arthritic condition as well. So it obviously just gets harder as you get older."
That apparently didn't sit well with some people, who doubtless missed (or ignored) the context of McIlroy's comments in a rush to brand him as an arrogant kid, lacking both a sense of history and a healthy respect for his elders.
The backlash to the comments was strong enough to set the 25-year-old a-Twitter, as he sought to defend himself from all the rabid Tiger and Phil truthers.
Got a question today about Tiger and Phil... Gave an honest answer, was very complimentary about the 2 best golfers of this generation
— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) September 10, 2014
Golfers on average have a 20-25 year career, both into the back 9 of their careers... Don't think there's anything wrong with saying that.
— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) September 10, 2014
To McIlroy's point about being complimentary, his comments were part of a broader tangent in which he downplayed the notion that Mickelson and Woods would no longer be factors on the tour going forward.
"Phil has played well in parts this year," McIlroy said, per CBS Sports' Kyle Porter. "He came really close to winning the PGA... I feel like he's gotten a little better as the year has went on.
"And, I mean, Tiger's not here just because he's been injured or he is injured. He hasn't had the opportunity to play.
"But I think if he gets back and when he gets back to full fitness, you'll see him back here again."