WHAT A FURORE
Mcilroy feels heat over his GB dilemma
“Gloss has gone off his efforts for this island”
RORY McILROY issued an open letter last night defending his thoughts about his Olympic allegiances, after Sportsmail’s exclusive interview caused a backlash among some Irish supporters.
The world No 1 had admitted he would be in a delicate position when it comes to choosing whether to represent Ireland or Team GB when Rio 2016 rolls around — and he soon discovered exactly the depth of the issue.
He suffered abuse from a significant number of his 1.25million Twitter followers as well as criticism from established broadcasters on Irish TV.
In a wide- ranging interview on Monday, the 23- year- old had spoken honestly for the first time about his dilemma and admitted: ‘The fact is I have always felt more British than Irish.’ And the admission from a player whose early golfing education was funded in part by the Golfing Union of Ireland brought responses ranging from sympathy and understanding to vile abuse.
The depth of feeling was such that McIlroy, currently in New York, felt compelled to confirm what he had said to Sportsmail and explain his position through his official Twitter feed.
He said: ‘ Having just won three out of my last four tournaments, including a second major championship, I was hoping my success on the golf course would be the more popular topic of golfing conversation today!
‘However, the issue of my cultural identity has re-emerged and with it, the matter of my national allegiance ahead of the Rio Olympics in 2016.
‘I am in an extremely sensitive and difficult position and I conveyed as much in the interview. I am a proud product of Irish golf and the Golfing Union of Ireland and am hugely honoured to have come from very rich Irish sporting roots. I am also a proud Ulsterman who grew up in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. That is my background and always will be.
‘As the world No 1 right now, I wish to be a positive role model and sports person that people respect and enjoy watching.
‘ I wish to clarify that I have absolutely not made a decision regarding my participation in the next Olympics. On a personal level, playing in the Olympics would be a huge honour. However, the Games in Rio are still four years away and I certainly won’t be making any decisions with regards to participating any time soon.’
That may placate some of his critics, but McIlroy’s fears that the issue would cause him a huge problem have been confirmed.
He may also have been exasperated at the timing of the interview’s publication — the day after his triumph at the BMW Championship — but Sportsmail had held it back, aware of the problems it might cause and anxious not to create a fuss that could damage his performance during that tournament.
Leading Irish radio presenter Pat Kenny of RTE had led the complaints during his programme, in conversation with the station’s sports reporter Paraic Lodge.
He said: ‘ He [McIlory] wasn’t British when he was taking the help from the GUI, was he? What a stupid thing to say.
From a PR perspective, I mean, what a stupid thing to say. I just think the gloss has gone off his efforts for this island, shall we say?’
That fuelled a fire that was already burning fiercely. Typical reaction from his Twitter followers came from Clodagh Donnelly, who wrote: ‘@McIlroyRory one word traitor #playingforteamGB turn ur back on ur own country #disgrace #rio2016’
And one under the pseudonym eire1916 wrote: ‘@McIlroyRory how about giving back the money you were happy to take from the Irish sports council when it suited you.#dirtyhun