‘I don’t want the membership to take this badly’: McIlroy’s swipe at Royal Melbourne

Rory McIlroy teed off at Royal Melbourne before hitting his first official shot there, categorically declaring that Kingston Heath is a superior golf course, a comment that sent tournament organisers ducking for cover and tongues wagging across Melbourne’s sand belt.

The star Northern Irishman had just completed Wednesday’s pro-am round, which was his first opportunity to walk the 18 holes of the composite course since arriving in the country, when he strolled into the media centre for his first press conference at the club.

When asked about how Royal Melbourne compared to other prestigious courses around the world, his answer was an unexpected one, given McIlroy is being paid a seven-figure sum to appear at the event.

“I don’t want the membership to take this badly … it’s probably not the best course in Melbourne,” he said.

The comment caused journalists and tournament officials to stop momentarily and look around the room in shock.

But his next sentence repaired some of the damage.

“That’s my opinion, but it’s certainly in the top 10 in the world,” he said.

“There’s so much great golf in this country, especially in this area.”

While they didn’t want to comment publicly, Royal Melbourne officials were unfazed by the comments as of Wednesday afternoon.

This masthead reported in July that McIlroy is being paid upwards of $2 million by the Victorian government, according to two industry sources who wouldn’t comment publicly because of the confidential nature of the contract.

The Allan government has also been contacted for comment.

McIlroy, who hadn’t been to Royal Melbourne before Monday, said he was surprised by certain elements of the layout.

McIlroy spent most of Monday touring some of Melbourne’s other world-famous courses, including Kingston Heath, Commonwealth, Metropolitan and Victoria.

Kingston Heath, which McIlroy praised, will host next year’s Australian Open, in which he is contracted to play.

Speaking of Royal Melbourne, McIlroy said: “I didn’t anticipate how many blind tee shots there was going to be.

“Yeah, it sort of takes a little bit to figure out. It’s certainly not straightforward.”

McIlroy is arguably the biggest pound-for-pound hitter the game has ever seen, which so often gives him a significant advantage off the tee, but Royal Melbourne’s composite course is not known for being long.

It means the reigning US Masters winner will have to put more time into club selection.

“I mean... it certainly gives you options and I think if I knew the golf course better and was more comfortable on it, I’d probably be more inclined to hit more club off the tee because I’d be more comfortable with my mind.

“But today, even on the 15th hole for example, I had a six iron off the tee because it just, the way visually the hole just looks like you hit it up the left and it sort of feeds down to the right, and then you hit a wedge in.

“But Cam Smith was playing behind me, and he’s a driver up close to the green. So yeah, [there are] certainly different ways to play it, but I’m going to have to try to get the first couple of rounds over me and figure it out as I go.

“Maybe then I can start to play a little bit more aggressive at the weekend if I feel a bit more comfortable.”

McIlroy will tee off alongside Aussies Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee at 7.05am on Thursday.

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