‘Two things can be true at the same time’ - McIlroy defends India Championship appearance after Kisner’s “dogsh*t” jibe
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy expressed surprise at Kevin Kisner's attack over his appearance at the DP World India Championship and defended his presence in New Delhi.
“I guess for the right price, we could all say that comment (about growing the game),” Kisner told the “Fore Play” podcast last week. “He doesn’t want to globally expand in India, he wants to get his $10 million bucks and go play in India.”
Kisner, a US vice-captain at last year’s Ryder Cup, described McIlroy’s pre-event assertion that he was keen to play a “global schedule” as “dogs**t” and branded the tournament a “money grab”.
McIlroy did not deny that he received a fee for simply appearing in the event in a week when he also signed a major sponsorship deal to become a DP World global ambassador.
“I don’t know why me being in India would make Kis need to comment on that,” McIlroy said. “Two things can be true at the same time.
Kisner: That is such a dog sh!t comment, but I guess for the right price, we could all say that comment. He doesn’t want to globally expand in India, he wants to get his $10 million bucks and go play in India. Rory: How would he know that? #RoryMcIlroy #KevinKisner #DPWIC https://t.co/xjOLUGCmq1
— Essentially Golf (@esg_2025) October 18, 2026
“People can get paid to come and play at a tournament, but at the same time, do it from a place of genuine interest of trying to bring the sport to another country, a developing country, a country where the middle class in India is larger than the whole population of the United States. It’s a huge market for golf.”
McIlroy admitted he was rusty in India, where he finished tied for 42nd behind Eugenio Chacarra and remains third in the Race to Dubai behind the Spaniard and American Patrick Reed.
“Yeah, great to be back in India,” he said. “I think we all got a tremendous welcome. It was a great week off the course and we did a lot of fun things.
“Wish I had played better on it, but I'll get to go home here for a couple of weeks and practice and sharpen up and get myself ready for the last couple of events.
“Overall, it's been a wonderful week. India is a really important market for golf going forward, and it's only going to keep growing.
“It's important that we come here, and I thought this week was another step in the right direction for golf in India and international golf as a whole.”
ENDS
