The former manager for golf star Rory McIlroy is now offering strong criticisms of the three-time majors champion for being a mouthpiece for the PGA Tour.
Chubby Chandler, who served as McIlroy’s manager from 2007-’11, recently spoke to Kevin Garside of the British newspaper the iNews Friday, that McIlroy is responsible for his poor finish at the masters on the pressure he puts himself under.
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McIlroy emerged as one of the biggest stars on the PGA Tour in the early 2010s. He first won the U.S. Open in 2011 followed by the PGA Championship in 2012. After twice winning the PGA Player of the Year in 2012 and ’13, McIlroy then went on to win the PGA Championship and The Open Championship in 2014, earning his third PGA Player of the Year honor.
However, the 33-year-old has never won the Masters. He missed the cut at the 2023 Masters, shooting a combined 149 in the first two rounds. After shooting +5 at the tournament, it marked the second time in three years that he failed to make the cut.
From Chandler’s perspective, part of the problem he believes is that McIlroy is still dealing with a ‘mental block’ that all stems from his focus on wanting to win a grand slam. As more time goes on, it becomes even worse.
“He has made winning the grand slam a bigger thing in his head than it actually is. He is not really driven by number of wins or number of majors per se, but he seems to be driven by wanting to win the grand slam. It’s a massive mental block, and it’s getting harder and harder. Every time he gets there, he has the pressure from everyone else, but also from himself.”
Chubby Chandler on Rory McIlroy’s pursuit of a grand slam
McIlroy is chasing PGA history. Only five golfers have ever won the grand slam – Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan – holding the distinguished honor with a victory at all four modern majors.
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It’s now reached the point to Chandler where it only makes sense to bet against McIlroy winning the Masters. He also believes part of the cause is McIlroy serving as a ‘mouthpiece’ for the PGA Tour, not always focusing on the task at hand when he needs to be.
“To me, he has got carried away as mouthpiece of the PGA Tour. He is doing things he shouldn’t be doing and opening his mouth too often. The interview on the fairway [at the Masters], absolutely brilliant TV, but not good for Rory McIlroy. You can’t be having a chat with a guy in the commentary box about the day and the way he is playing, or whatever, then get over a wedge and give it 100%.”
Chubby Chandler on Rory McIlroy’s actions during the 2023 Masters
McIlroy did come close to completing the grand slam last year. He finished second (-7) at the 2022 Masters Tournament, posting a -8 in the final round. While he was better than the winner Scottie Scheffler (135 – 142) on the final two days, a rough first two days at Augusta National (146) proved costly as he lost by three strokes.
While Chandler might view McIlroy as a mouthpiece for the PGA Tour, there is evidence to suggest otherwise. The PGA star said in March that the threat of LIV Golf has benefited everyone, comments that tour officials likely prefer not to be said.