Rory McIlroy pushed back after fellow professional golfer Kevin Kisner questioned whether McIlroy’s appearance at the DP World India Championship was genuinely intended to help grow golf in the country.
The exchange followed McIlroy’s participation in the tournament in India, where he finished tied for 42nd. Before the event, McIlroy spoke at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi. He said he hoped playing in the tournament could help promote golf in India.
Kisner, a four-time PGA Tour winner, challenged that explanation on the Fore Play podcast. He suggested McIlroy’s participation was primarily motivated by a substantial appearance payment, rather than a desire to expand the sport internationally. Kisner referred to a figure of $10 million, though the source material does not independently establish the amount of McIlroy’s fee.
Kisner also argued that golfers’ public remarks about promoting the game in host countries can be shaped by tournament appearances and media obligations. He said he would also accept an opportunity to play for a guaranteed payment, while questioning why top players would travel to some events but not others.
After Sunday’s final round, McIlroy told The Mirror he had not seen Kisner’s comments before being asked about them. He questioned why his decision to play in India had prompted Kisner to comment.
McIlroy’s main response was that financial compensation and a sincere interest in bringing golf to a new country are not mutually exclusive. He described India as a developing country and a significant potential market for golf, saying its middle-class population exceeds the total population of the United States.
The comments leave the disagreement centered on the players’ interpretation of McIlroy’s motives. Kisner questioned the sincerity of the stated aim of growing the game, while McIlroy said receiving payment does not rule out genuine interest in expanding golf’s reach. The supplied material does not provide independent information about McIlroy’s fee or evidence that establishes either player’s account of his motivation.
