Rory slams Euro Tour for being ‘too easy’

RORY McILROY last night launched a withering attack on the European Tour by claiming the courses are set up too easy. The Northern Irishman was particularly critical of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship — after his closing round at St Andrews included six straight birdies yesterday — and the Scottish Open, which he played in July. McIlroy shot 67 yesterday to finish with a 15-under total at the Old Course, seven behind winner Victor Perez of France. ‘I’m honestly sick of coming back to Europe and shooting 15-under par and finishing 30th,’ complained the four-time major champion, who

actually finished the tournament tied 26th. ‘I don’t think the courses are set up hard enough. There’s no penalty for bad shots,’ added the 30-year-old McIlroy. ‘It’s tough when you come back and it’s like that. I don’t feel like good golf is as well regarded as it should be.’ McIlroy (below), who intends to raise the issue with the European Tour’s chief executive Keith Pelley, pointed out that the same thing happened the last time he played in Scotland. ‘At the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club (in North Berwick), I shot 13-under and finished tied 34th. ‘If the tour wants to put forward a really good product, then the set-ups are going to have to be tougher.’ McIlroy was speaking after completing a fortnight’s golf in Britain during which he finished with an 11-under total at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. He has just come off a season in America where his imperious stats from tee to green were rewarded with three wins and a near-weekly residency in the top ten. The inference from McIlroy yesterday was clearly that, when the fairways are generous and there is little rough around the putting surfaces, it is harder for those virtues to stand out. Meanwhile, Perez secured his maiden European Tour title in his rookie season after edging a thrilling final-round battle with Matthew Southgate at the Dunhill.