Rory Responds To Critics Of His Post-U.S. Open Schedule

David McNeill of the Belfast Telegraph reports on Rory McIlroy's response to critics of his post-Congressional schedule, though it was hardly the "pop" the headline writer suggested it was.

But McIlroy retorted: “My answer (to these people) is simple. I wanted to get everything out of the way so that when I did start playing again I could just concentrate on golf.”

He added: “Some people may have wondered why I chose to go from one Major straight to another.

“But because of what happened at Congressional and the way it became such a big deal (he was the youngest winner since Bobby Jones in 1923 and did it with a record score and by an eight-shot margin) I wanted to get everything out of the way and sorted so that when I did start playing again I could just concentrate on golf.

The more intriguing criticism Rory might want to respond to came from his manager Chubby Chandler, speaking to Tom English in Scotland On Sunday.

"I would say Rory might find the Open quite difficult. You might find him struggle at St George's, it's not his sort of golf. Firm and bouncy with a bit of wind wouldn't be ideal for him, but I would say watch out for him at Atlanta (in the USPGA]. That'll suit him down to the ground. If it was flat calm at the Open, Rory would have a chance but it probably won't be. Lee won't be far away again, I'm certain."