Rory-Faldo Row In Full Force As McIlroy Hits Back

Derek Lawrenson on Rory McIlory hitting back at Nick Faldo regarding the former Open Champion's criticism of the lad's work ethic and club switch.

‘I saw what Nick said, that I should be on the course between nine and five,’ said McIlroy. ‘Well, I was on the range at 6.15am and got out of the gym at 6.15pm, so that’s a 12-hour day compared to his eight-hour day.

James Lawton offered this assessment:

The huge difference which the 24-year-old Ulsterman is not shy to emphasise is that he will never mistake golf for the beginning and the end of the meaning of his life. “I will work as hard as I can,” he promises, “but there are other things which are important too.”

Faldo, who according to his former wife Jill, arranged for the inducing of the births of their three children so as to cause least disruption to his tournament schedule, is arguing that McIlroy needs to work a nine-to-five shift on the course and the practice range – and that for a few pivotal years he should shut out all those distractions which tend to come to a young man with a fortune of £68m accumulated in a few years. These, presumably, also include McIlroy’s Danish girlfriend and tennis star, Caroline Wozniacki.