McIlroy insists money hasn't dulled his competitive edge

Rory McIlroy drives at the 11th during round three of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, November 14, 2020. Picture © Augusta National

Rory McIlroy has hit back at the critics who say money has made him “soft” and his best days are behind him.

The four-time Major champion was winless in 2020 after suffering a major loss of form following the coronavirus lockdown.

And while he admits that playing with Dustin Johnson for the first two rounds of the Masters showed him that he has work to do on his iron play, he's upbeat about 2021 and still planning to join Shane Lowry at the Tokyo Olympics.

Speaking exclusively to Golfweek, McIlroy was asked about recent comments by 1973 Open champion Tom Weiskopf (78), who suggested he's made so much money, he's lost his hunger.

"I look at Rory McIlroy, and I think golf is something just for Rory to do," Weiskopf told Golfweek. "I've said it for a while now that I don't think he'll win much more than the four he's got or maybe five because I don't see that determination and will to be the best. "

Weiskopf added: "I don't see any frustration. Life is good, and it should be – he's a multi, multi-millionaire and has a kid now – but I don't see the Tiger attitude. It's like he's satisfied all the time."

McIlroy insisted it wasn't a lack of ambition that prompted a string of philosophical post-round interviews but new-found "resilience."

"I've never met Tom Weiskopf in my life, he's never met me," McIlroy said. "So he's obviously making a statement based on what he sees from the outside, but I don't think that's a fair assessment.

"I've shown throughout my career that I care, that I want to win, that I want to be the best. And I've been the best. It's not as if I'm out there in the clouds and not thinking about it. I try my heart out on every single shot, every single tournament that I play. I maybe deal better with disappointment than I used to."

He added: "I certainly don't feel as if I'm done. I'm 31 years old, and I've got at least the next half of my career still to go.”

As for what he needs to improve, he admitted finishing last for his approach play at the Masters was eye-opening.

"Playing with DJ the first couple of days at Augusta sort of highlighted a couple of things for me, what he did so well, and I wasn't really able to do," he said. "It's not going to be like this every week, because Augusta's greens were so soft, but I had a terrible time trying to control my distance to back pins, trying to take spin off the ball.

"DJ is hitting these little shots, and they're stopping by the pin, and I'm trying to take yardage off… That just highlights, 'OK, that's what you need to work on'."

Admitting he likes the new "strategic alliance" between the European Tour and the PGA Tour, he said he can't wait to join Lowry on the plane to Tokyo next summer.

"It's not ideal in terms of the golfing calendar, but I missed Rio, and I think it will be a great experience," said McIlroy who returns to action in Abu Dhabi in January. "It looks like it will be me and Shane on the team. I get on great with Shane, I get on great with Neil Manchip, the team manager.

"I'm looking forward to that, so hopefully all is well, and we can do it. Looking back on my career, if I didn't do it once, I'd regret it."

Meanwhile, Dubliners Niall Kearney and Gavin Moynihan tee it up in the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World at Jumeirah Golf Estates' Fire Course today.

They join a quality field featuring Major winners Danny Willett and Martin Kaymer as Jonathan Caldwell and Cormac Sharvin play the South African Open at Gary Player Country Club from tomorrow.