Wait, What Files: Rory Last Paid A Green Fee At...Valderamma?!

I don’t want to judge and Rory McIlroy can certainly afford the hefty price, nonetheless it was a bit of a surprise when the topic of public golf and majors prompted AP’s Doug Ferguson to ask the last time McIlroy was asked to pay (most courses would pay to have a top player give them the time of day).

That it was a former Ryder Cup site, European Tour event site and rich’s guys place was, well, surprising.

From Steve DiMeglio’s item on McIlroy supporting muni’s for majors and the surprise answer:

“Valderrama, 2005,” McIlroy said. “250 Euros.”

That’s about $375 today.

But it was worth it to play the club that has hosted two different European Tour events, two World Golf Championships events won by Tiger Woods and Mike Weir in 1999 and 2000, and the 1997 Ryder Cup won by Europe.

“I’ve always liked the look at Valderrama,” McIlroy explained his decision to pay to play. “I was in Spain. Obviously Ryder Cup course. The Tour Championship of the European Tour was there for a lot of years. I was there and spent a few months’ worth of pocket money to go and play.”

He had not amassed four majors and two FedExCup’s then, but still pretty funny to imagine the pro shop ringing him up.