Key Takeaways:
• Rory McIlroy’s ex-agent, Chubby Chandler, suggests McIlroy has perennially struggled with putting.
• Chandler believes Joaquin Niemann is currently the second-best player in the world, not McIlroy.
• The former agent feels McIlroy was treated unfairly by the PGA Tour.
• According to Chandler, PGA Tour and LIV Golf are likely to merge by late 2025.
• Chandler compares LIV Golf to F1 and the Indian Premier League, predicting a bright future.
Retired professional golfer and ex-representative of Rory McIlroy, Chubby Chandler, recently shared his insights on McIlroy’s career, the world golf rankings, and the proposed merge between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. Chandler, the founder of International Sports Management, was interviewed exclusively by BetIdeas.com, facilitated by Press Box PR.
Chandler’s Take on McIlroy’s Putting Skills
Chandler, speaking after the Arnold Palmer Invitational, discussed McIlroy’s performance, highlighting his struggles with putting. He said, “I think [Rory] has always been a weak putter. He’s always been an average putter. Now and again, he gets above average, and he wins. But most of the time, he’s an average putter compared to some of the guys.”
Who Is The Real World’s Number Two Golfer?
Chandler, an enthusiast of LIV Golf, raised eyebrows when he suggested that despite McIlroy’s ranking as the world’s number two golfer, he believes Joaquin Niemann deserves that spot more. Niemann scored two wins in the four LIV Golf events conducted thus far in 2024, rendering him a standout player in Chandler’s estimation.
What Does The Golf World Ranking Mean?
In discussing the meaning of the Official World Golf Ranking, given that LIV Golf participants can’t accumulate points, Chandler dismissed their significance. He insinuated that at some point, someone needs to address the issue as he believes 20 players aren’t featuring in the top 50 that should be.
PGA-LIV Golf Merger Debated
Chandler also commented on the proposed merge between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. He suggested the likely merger by suggesting, “I think what’ll happen is LIV will continue as it is for this year and next. […] I think by the end of next year, something will have happened to bring them together.”
Rory McIlroy ‘Wronged’ by PGA Tour
In the course of the interview, Chandler stated that he believes McIlroy was unfairly treated by the PGA Tour. He suggested that McIlroy has wasted a year of his golfing career in efforts that ultimately weren’t considered important. He critically remarked, “And you’d have never got Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods doing that.”
LIV Golf’s Global Implications
Regarding LIV Golf, Chandler compared the venture to the world-renowned Indian Premier League (cricket) and F1. He expressed his opinion that the future of LIV Golf appears promising, taking into account the robust fields at tournaments and crowd numbers attending these matches.
Chandler’s diverse insights offer a compelling view on contemporary professional golf trends. His comments raise essential questions about player rankings, golf tour representation, and the future of the golf season. As the anticipated PGA Tour and LIV Golf merge draws closer, Chandler’s insights serve to stoke the ongoing discourse.