Tour News

McIlroy reaches breaking point at Merion

Published

13 years ago

Jun 16, 2013

In what seemed to be a summation of his season so far, Rory McIlroy took his frustration out one of his Nike irons after he dunked two shots into Cobb’s Creek on Merion’s No. 11, leading to a quadruple bogey en route to a final-round 76. Using the weight of his body, he jammed the club into the turf, causing the shaft to bend noticeably.

Complying with the rules of the USGA, the club was deemed “unfit” for play, and McIlroy was forced to continue his round with only 13 of the 14 clubs he started with.

He usually displays a calm demeanor on the course, but I suppose everyone has their breaking points. Unfortunately for Nike CEO Phil Knight and McIlroy’s fans and followers, we found out today the breaking point of his new irons.

Following his exorbitant Nike endorsement deal in the offseason, Rory has been anything but stellar in 2013. A second-place finish at the Valero Texas Open and a T8 at The Players Championship have been the high points of his season. He’s been out of contention for the first two major championships, and most of his PGA Tour stops throughout the year.

Early in March, McIlroy withdrew from the Honda Classic citing a toothache, but he admitted afterward that it had more to do with his on course struggles and mental state than incoming Wisdom teeth.

A multi-million dollar endorsement deal may not be able to buy maturity, but at least he can afford to buy a new iron.

Related Topics:Nike

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

30 Comments

Will

Jul 11, 2013 at 5:17 pm

true as phil said tiger beat everyone when nike clubs were terrible

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lloyd duffield

Jul 1, 2013 at 3:51 pm

I READ ON SOME GOLF WEB SITE THAT RORY WAS JUST ABOUT TO SIGN A DEAL WITH TAYLORMADE WHEN NIKE JUMPED IN AND OFFERD HIM MORE DOSH. IM NOT 100% SURE IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT BUT SAYING THAT A PRO LIKE RORY SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE A CHEEP SET AND STILL DO WELL . ALL IN THE HEAD PROBLEY ???

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Feisty

Jun 18, 2013 at 1:40 pm

Can’t blame the kid too much. It’s been a rough year so far. Heck, I would have made sure the club was in two pieces. There’s always a Tommy Bolt on the Tour. They’re not a bunch of robots. They’re human, competing for big purses. Sometimes you just gotta blow off some steam.

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Scott

Jun 18, 2013 at 12:50 pm

Without a doubt he should drop Nike and go back to Titleist. Other than Tiger, who is an enigma anyway, no one serious plays with Nike clubs.

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- Tony
  
  Jun 18, 2013 at 3:47 pm
  
  “no one serious plays with Nike clubs”? Really? Ahhhh, Charles Schwartzel (won the Masters), Kyle Stanley (PGA Tour winner), Nick Watney (PGA Tour winner), Russel Henley (PGA Tour winner), Kevin Chappell, Paul Casey, Francesco Molinari?
  
  Reply Report comment
- IgnoranceIsBliss
  
  Jun 20, 2013 at 5:57 am
  
  Honestly, everyone who was unfortunate enough to have read your comment is now dumber for having done so. Are you really so ignorant that you have managed to convince yourself that changing equipment manufacturers is the sole purpose for Rory’s poor performance? It’s not as if Nike would have handed Rory off-the-rack equipment and suggested he simply work it out. Rather, the specifications (lie angle, loft, length, swing weight, shaft, grip, etc.) of his previous Titleist equipment would have been precisely documented and recreated on his Nike equipment. I’m unsure why I have taken the time to point out the error of your ways, as chances are you’re just another chopper who is attempting to justify (and increase the perceived value of) your purchases by speaking poorly of equipment you probably haven’t even used.
  
  Reply Report comment
Don

Jun 17, 2013 at 9:29 pm

Give him a break. I think most people who play have been so angry we slammed a club, threw your ball in the water, or maybe even broke a club. We weren’t 24 and playing in a major where the winner was over par for the tournament. He’ll be fine, he’s just in a bad spell right now.

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J.doe

Jun 17, 2013 at 7:47 pm

Warning: Nike clubs can seriously ruin your game

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Jack

Jun 17, 2013 at 2:30 pm

I don’t agree with all of this “he’s young give him a break” stuff. Yes he is young (but a still an adult), and yes he had a rough tournament, but he is very lucky to be able to play golf for a living and become obscenely rich doing it. While he may be frustrated, he is one hundred percent in control of his actions; and with millions of kids watching him, he is setting a very bad example for them on how to deal with pressure and frustration. For the guy that said we can’t understand the pressure he is under, there are people on this board who have real responsibilities and stress like policemen, doctors, teachers, etc. Rory is an entertainer, not a bridge builder — let’s not loose perspective here!

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- Ken
  
  Jun 17, 2013 at 2:58 pm
  
  Do you really think the drive to succeed and the work ethic to spend 8 hours a day on the range goes side by side with someone that could care less whether he wins or loses? I completely disagree – that winning desire is the predecessor for the work ethic and being pissed off that you are playing poorly is completely understandable. He had a bad day, he was frustrated, it happens rarely with him, I say give him a break…
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jack
    
    Jun 18, 2013 at 12:32 am
    
    He can be as pissed as he wants, but he comes off like a spoiled child when he purposely breaks clubs. I’ll gladly spend 8 hours a day on the range rather than my day job — so would most anyone on this forum.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - EdMan
      
      Jun 18, 2013 at 9:34 am
      
      That’s an easy statement to make when you don’t play golf for a living. How many of us who play golf for enjoyment wouldn’t love to play golf instead of work. Have you never experienced frustration in your day job? Playing golf for a living is a completely different experience. It’s very easy to sit on the sideline and judge others.
      
      Reply Report comment
- Trevor
  
  Jun 17, 2013 at 8:48 pm
  
  That’s an ignorant thing to say. You build your own path in life and make your own choices. Whatever profession you choose you should be prepared and aware of the possible pressures of it. Same applies to Rory and any other professional but like ANY profession, you learn as you go and you learn to deal with the pressures in time, he’s young still and he’ll learn to deal with.
  
  Reply Report comment
Trevor

Jun 17, 2013 at 10:35 am

He’s young, he’ll learn to deal with the pressure in time. I do however think Nike moved too fast to get the young star, he had a good year but he has a lot of learning left to do.

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neil

Jun 17, 2013 at 10:33 am

Rory is one of the nicest guys out there.His background is very working class,his father worked 3 jobs to enable Rory to play golf.Not spoiled at all.

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James

Jun 17, 2013 at 10:19 am

Nothing new.. This is the same guy who just walked off the course out of frustration.

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reqq

Jun 17, 2013 at 8:03 am

Well thats it, im will replace my Project X shafts with Dynamic Gold since they clearly cant handle the pressure.

Reply Report comment
keith

Jun 17, 2013 at 4:46 am

I dont think he is spoiled at all, he has worked very hard to get to where he is now. I think he is having trouble getting used to his new clubs and that had led him to his frustration, this isnt the first time a pro has broken a club in anger. Lay off this guy, he has more pressure on him than any of us could ever imagine, so bending a club isnt that big of a deal….

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- B MAC
  
  Jun 17, 2013 at 6:48 am
  
  Right on Keith !!! The way tiger and sergio have carried on in last month ! And your having a crack at rory ! He will be fine just in a slump at the moment remember last year he went through a slump in middle of year and finished year with 4 wins including a major !!
  
  Reply Report comment
Jack

Jun 17, 2013 at 2:14 am

Spoiled brat and a really bad example of how to act on the course!

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- Dave
  
  Jun 17, 2013 at 2:35 pm
  
  Come on man… you’ve never done something like that?! Give me (and him) a break unless you’re perfect.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Ken
  
  Jun 17, 2013 at 2:54 pm
  
  Over the course of his career he has appeared to be nothing but courteous and respectful. The one tournament he did make a bad decision and left, he profusely apologized for. He has one frustrating day where he bends a club and all the sudden he is a spoiled brat? I don’t think your math adds up…
  
  Reply Report comment
Jack

Jun 17, 2013 at 12:30 am

he had one good year, and Nike gambled way too hard on this young one. Still lots of years to go though. I think he is just enjoying his success a little too much and it’s getting to his head.

Reply Report comment
- Dave
  
  Jun 17, 2013 at 2:33 pm
  
  One good year? kidding right?
  
  He was low-am at the 2007 British Open, He finished second at the 2011 Masters, won the 2011 US Open by a record number of strokes, won the 2012 PGA Championship also my a ton of strokes.
  
  Not even mentioning all the other tour wins he has or that he won the money list and tour championship on the Euro Tour last year (which has improved significantly in prestigue)
  
  He has one of the most fundamentally sound swings you’ll see on tour. Remember when everyone was saying he was a one yr wonder last year after the Player’s when he’d missed like 4 of his last 6 cuts? Yeah… that sounded pretty dumb a few months later.
  
  He’ll be fine, he’s going thru a slump.
  
  Reply Report comment
Im nobody:(

Jun 16, 2013 at 11:42 pm

What a loser, so immature nike should fire him. But hes finished anyway it will be a looooong time before he wins again and thank God we didnt have to watch every shot tiger hit…… So refreshing!

Reply Report comment
- Dave
  
  Jun 17, 2013 at 2:39 pm
  
  Another perfect human being throwing stones whilst living in a glass house. Give the guy a break! Don’t see anyone going crazy over Jason Duffner throwing his wedge into the water hazard!
  
  Reply Report comment
- anonymous
  
  Jun 17, 2013 at 3:48 pm
  
  You are blaming a 22, 23 year old kid for being immature? How mature were you at 22, 23? If your like most people you weren’t very mature at 22,23.
  
  Reply Report comment
Golfzalo

Jun 16, 2013 at 8:27 pm

Bad (greedy) move. He should have stuck with Titleist and continue winning!

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- Ian harris
  
  Jun 16, 2013 at 10:21 pm
  
  Stats show his ball striking numbers have improved ……. Maybe should stick with old putter though
  
  Reply Report comment
  - paul
    
    Jun 17, 2013 at 9:42 am
    
    he was using his scotty all week
    
    Reply Report comment

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