Monday
Sep102012
Rory Issues Open Letter On His "Cultural Identity"
Rory McIlroy, clearly hearing it from fans to the point he issues this letter today after his comments to the Daily Mail seemed to indicate he would represent Great Britain in the 2016 Rio Olympics if he qualifies.
The letter (click to enlarge):
;)
Monday, September 10, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Reader Comments (42)
Pretty simple
but he has to learn it the same way tiger did...give him time...
Unfortunately the genie is out of the bottle and despite the open letter, in which interestingly he didn't deny what he said or say he was misquoted etc, I think he's going to have difficulty moving on from this. I really feel for him - like he said we should all be talking about his recent achievements. Unfortunately there are too many people who think his nationality is far more important and will not be able to accept Rory's own feelings on the matter. It's very sad.
Having said that, I echo the munsterman who wished that Rory had the media savvy that GMac possesses. Very few do. He's a very gifted gabber and golfer, that's for sure.
Rory should give it a miss. If he's still with Caroline by 2016, she won't let him near the village anyway, and if he continues to play as he's doing right now (which is probably impossible) he won't be able to walk unaided by then due to the weight of his wallet.
2. @ munsterman: think what you like about your convoluted history -- and I mean that, there are lots of perspectives and many as valid as their opposite -- but Rory has not chosen to play for "another country." Get over it -- in official terms, it is the same country, as are Scotland and Wales when it comes to international matters. It has always struck me as one of the brighter things in a dark time that the Irish of North and South played as one "entity," to use your word, while their neighbours were shootin' the bejesus out of one another and generally making each other's lives miserable. It gave hope -- through golf! Let's not destroy fragile peace over something perfectly legitimate -- Rory's choice. And let's face it -- it's hardly analogous to Sophie's.
3. Darren Clarke has always seemed to be more comfortable associating with Irishness -- he was squirming through God Save tthe Queen at some Ryder Cup or other.
4. I wonder if the next Ryder Cup will be using the Londonderry Air, as is occasionally done in parts of NI for sporting events, though it has no status. In the old days the likes of Clarke could look misty eyed when Padraig's anthem was played and then fidget through GSTQ. Rory will doubtless be comfortable either way, and Europeans do not clamp their hands to their breasts every time an anthem strikes up, so it should all be perfectly civilised.
What does that mean?
Some of these decisions may not, in the final analysis, be Rory's. Doesn't he have to wait to be asked, or wait to see if he qualifies, to join a team? He is in the relatively rare position of being eligible to play for one of two different teams, and there are issues between the two nationalities,
Should the combined efforts of English, Scottish and Welsh golfers push him down a few lists, might he change his (seeming) allegiance? But if there is a continuing raft of NI golfers coming good at the rate they seem to be doing these days, will he be going cap in hand to the Irish to beg for a place -- if it is even allowable?
I think his letter, especially the phrase you highlighted, is trying to back-burner the whole thing. Which is where it should be for three years or more. Time enough for the teams to fight for Rory if he is still #1 and claiming a major or two a year, winning FedExes and WGCs, etc. When we see where he is, and who is around him, when the time comes, he can make his decision -- again, to the extent it is his choice. There are no current rules for golf in the Olympics that I am aware of, but I don't foresee "Captain's picks." The PGA Tour, and the ET, are not running this, as far as I know. When Woods can fail to qualify for a Ryder Cup, there is a Plan B. There may not be one for RIo -- make it or don't. But as I said we don't all have the luxury of trying to qualify for two teams,
Not cynical at all! Because of its past "difficulties" NI's players of any sport were granted the right to choose whether they wished to play for either Ireland or the UK. And they can change backwards and forwards! The Irish international cricketers Morgan and Joyce have both played in recent years for England (in fact Morgan played today) - and they're Republic of Ireland men, although I do believe they need to have a residency qualification and possibly a British parent. There's nothing demeaning about this. Both countries are very small in population, and it was deemed that to give NI natives a better chance at international competition they could make the choice of countries, given that the competition to represent Ireland, purely for demographic reasons, is less fierce than England or GB (as an entity) - except in golf, rugby and hurling, of course. The dispensation was I believe part of the Good Friday agreement, and was an inspired political, conciliatory gesture which has a been a huge success.
To criticise Rory for making statements of fact seems absurd. He has a dilemma. Sooner or later he has to come up with an answer. Easiest solved but forgetting the Olympics as I posted earlier.
And they have Irish accents there. So, it all works.
Ghillie, pretty hard to backtrack and choose to play for Ireland after saying that huh?
And would he really consider not playing the Olympics?
So, the other quote is complete BS. (and poorly written to boot)
Hell, maybe I can move to the Maldives and play in RIO
It's a matter of four years hence, when the decision may be taken out of his hands.
Ya think the Irish wouldnt have him if he's playing like 2012? Despite a history not unchequered with grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory, and not missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity -- I refer to the pols, not the sportsmen -- I think not.
...but I'd also argue that the chances of this happening are 0%.
Think about it, there are only 2 possible outcomes --> (1) play for Ireland --> (2) play for GB.
Reaction to Outcome 1 = joyous in Ireland, complete non-event in GB. Based on Rory's playing history (Golfing Union of Ireland, etc...) Outcome 1 would be as expected from a GB perspective.
Reaction to Outcome 2 = tremendous scrutiny accompanied by the opposite of joyous from the Irish perspective. Won't be any fun.
If Outcome 1 was Rory's choice he'd just come right out and clear it up now, there would be no downside.
Hypothetically I guess there could be an Outcome 3, which would be make a statement that Rory would never play the Olympics no matter what thereby avoiding having to make a choice -- I do not believe he would ever willingly skip a chance at the Olympics so it's not really a viable outcome to consider.
PPS...again, I think that by deferring the matter, he's already clearly signaled his choice.
The only sour taste that would be left in my mind will be the fact that the GUI invested heavily in Rory's development (as they do with all promising young players) and you may now see him going head to head with an Irish player for a medal. However if Rory was to continue his involvement with the GUI and give some of his time with the development of younger players then I think he could mend many of the bridges.