McIlroy seeks smoother ride in Phoenix; Harrington targeting first win for four years

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his stroke from the No. 12 tee during Round 4 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, November 15, 2020.

Rory McIlroy insisted would never bend the rules of golf after the PGA Tour used him to paint Patrick Reed in a favourable light during the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.

The pair took relief from plugged lies in the rough during the third round despite video evidence showing their shots had bounced on landing.

Reed extracted his ball from its lie in heavy rough left of the 10th before calling an official and was savaged by social media and traditional media outlets, the PGA Tour rushed to defend the Texan, explaining that McIlroy had taken a similar drop on the 18th that day and that both men had done things by the book.

"The Committee is comfortable with how both players proceeded given the fact that they used the evidence they had at the time," the Tour said in a statement.

McIlroy did not consult an official but his reputation is such that the integrity of his actions was never questioned, and unlike Reed, he gained no advantage from his drop.

"It's the worst thing in golf to be labelled as someone that tries to get away with something or labelled a cheater and that's just not how you want your reputation to be," McIlroy explained.

"I've never tried to get away with anything out here. Our game is about integrity, and it's about doing the right thing. I always try to do the right thing, and hopefully, people see that. I feel like I have a reputation of that."

Joint runner-up Xander Schauffele condemned Reed, saying would not have touched his ball before calling an official, adding pointedly: "Obviously the talk amongst the boys isn't great, I guess, but he's [Reed] protected by the Tour and that's all that matters, I guess."

The PGA Tour's habit of protecting players by refusing to reveal fines or punishments or calling out questionable on course behaviour means it's serving its product at the expense of the game itself.

It was ironic to see PointsBet, the official betting partner of the PGA Tour and NBC, announce it was refunding all pre-tournament bets on an outright winner other than Reed in what it called "a good karma payout." 

Reed join Irish golf's Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, Cormac Sharvin and Paul Dunne and compatriots Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau in the Saudi International this week.

But after closing with a 73 to tie for 16th behind Reed in San Diego, McIlroy joins Pádraig Harrington in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

"I'm looking forward to getting on some truer greens," McIlroy said after a three-over-par back nine on Sunday. 

"Obviously it was a disappointing finish... Those three shots I dropped on the back nine were pretty costly. Again, I'm seeing some good signs in my golf, but still some things I need to work on."

Harrington also rued tentative putting in the final round in Dubai but he believes he's close to winning again, which would be enough to persuade him to delay joining the PGA Tour Champions.

"I am in my 50th year so I have set myself a goal of being competitive this year or else I am leaving, I am going to the Champions Tour next year," Harrington said. 

“That's it. If I don't contend to win a tournament this year, I am moving on."

On Sunday, he added: "I need a win, I could do with a win. It's a long trip but I am getting my head around playing. I can see myself getting myself up there."