Rory McIlroy Will Never Win the Masters

[iacas]

  On 4/13/2025 at 4:38 PM, TommyRude said:

jeezus, you sound like a librarian or an auditor person.  At least I have a take.  You could try coming up with something more interesting than being the corporate fact checker, maybe that’s not possible for you

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Maybe you could just be less of a troll and, frankly, an ass.

At least you chose an appropriate username. Should Rory win, perhaps we should ban you. That sounds fair.

Your whole vibe to this point is bullshit. I've had this site for over 20 years. You don't think I've offered "takes"? Ha ha. What I try not to do is all you've done: offer bullshit based on falsities.

[TommyRude]

  On 4/13/2025 at 4:52 PM, iacas said:

Maybe you could just be less of a troll and, frankly, an ass.

At least you chose an appropriate username. Should Rory win, perhaps we should ban you. That sounds fair.

Your whole vibe to this point is bullshit. I've had this site for over 20 years. You don't think I've offered "takes"? Ha ha. What I try not to do is all you've done: offer bullshit based on falsities.

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Well then by all means you should ban me, don’t know why you should wait until the end?  I’m just a golfer and pro golf fan and wanted to come in here and give a take, maybe controversial, maybe not every element buttoned down with facts (jeez), but not an unreasonable take.  Go ahead, ban me, stay in your safe fact checked moderated bubble, running just the way you want it to.  Good luck to you and everyone else here, seems like a good forum with good folks.

[klineka]

  On 4/13/2025 at 5:29 PM, TommyRude said:

maybe controversial, maybe not every element buttoned down with facts (jeez), but not an unreasonable take.

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Controversial takes are allowed here. Also there is no expectation that a take be 100% airtight supported by hundreds of facts that would stand up to the most rigorous scrutiny but there is an expectation that when you make a claim that you support it with facts, especially when directly prompted to do so on multiple occasions. 

Here are, IMO, the issues and what has rubbed people (myself included) the wrong way

• The whole selectively choosing who to reply to
• Ignoring direct requests to back up your claims with facts
• Continuing to spew additional things that are straight up wrong
  • The most recent of which claiming that if Rory blows a 2 shot lead today that would be the greatest collapse since Greg Norman.
  • Jordan Spieth blew a FIVE shot lead in the final round in 2016 yet somehow if Rory blows a TWO shot lead that would be the greatest collapse since Norman??? 

 

[TommyRude]

  On 4/13/2025 at 5:43 PM, klineka said:

Controversial takes are allowed here. Also there is no expectation that a take be 100% airtight supported by hundreds of facts that would stand up to the most rigorous scrutiny but there is an expectation that when you make a claim that you support it with facts, especially when directly prompted to do so on multiple occasions. 

Here are, IMO, the issues and what has rubbed people (myself included) the wrong way

• The whole selectively choosing who to reply to
• Ignoring direct requests to back up your claims with facts
• Continuing to spew additional things that are straight up wrong
  • The most recent of which claiming that if Rory blows a 2 shot lead today that would be the greatest collapse since Greg Norman.
  • Jordan Spieth blew a FIVE shot lead in the final round in 2016 yet somehow if Rory blows a TWO shot lead that would be the greatest collapse since Norman??? 

 

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jeezus, another auditor!  I think I’ve responded to everyone?  Maybe not in the volume that you want?

“Ignoring direct requests to back up your claims with facts”… my god.  Last time I checked, you don’t sign my paycheck, so pardon me if I don’t jump to respond to your orders.

OK - so I guess I forgot about Jordan’s collapse.  For some reason, that one just doesn’t jump out in my memory the way Greg’s did.  I guess I’ll research the hell out of every single take I make going forward… oh that sounds like fun.  I guess I could take a minute and rephrase takes to make them less auditable (oh fun), like in this case, "if Rory loses today in dramatic fashion, it would certainly be a memorable loss."  Does that comply with your tone and style and accuracy preference?

[klineka]

So let me make sure I understand right. You joined a forum and created a post with a controversial take plus made multiple claims that are factually incorrect and when people call you out on it and ask you to back up your claims that makes us the auditors and somehow the bad guys? Got it.

[TommyRude]

Updating my take after 3 rounds are in:

First reason - physical.  Rory started to bulk up in 2015.  The bulk up got intense.  In my view, this certainly affected his game.  Was it the reason he hasn’t won the Masters since then?  Maybe, but I guess I can’t prove that (jeez), other than pointing to his result-record during and since the bulk up.  Fast fwd to 2025 - - it certainly appears he’s tapered off the bulk up?  He’s still muscular, but perhaps less so than in the 2015-2019 period.  And he’s definitely risen back up to the top of the world.  His play so far in the 2025 Masters runs counter to this theory, he’s been spectacular, notwithstanding the 2 doubles in round one.

Second reason:  Mental - the whole hyper macho aggressive take: 2025 update - I’ll raise my hand, he seems to have dialed it down considerably.  And certainly his recent record reflects whatever macho stuff he might have going is not impacting his play.  Again - after 3 rounds, playing incredibly.  In general, the mental pressure at the Masters is huge on everyone including Rory, and add on his place in history - huge pressure.  He’s handling it very well so far.

Third reason: “The Power of Stussy”.  As folks have pointed out, this impacts ALL celebrities, Rory included.  Again - so far, he’s not letting any external stuff impact his play so far.

Fourth bonus reason;  the clock is ticking:  So far so good for Rory.  But it will likely weigh in hard as this round goes along. 

Summary:  Nothing really earthshaking here.  If anything out of all this would be the main reason if he loses, it would be factor #4
 

[Zeph]

This topic aged like a carton of milk left in room temperature.

[klineka]

[saevel25]

[TommyRude]

I take my hat off to Rory, WOWOW!  That must have been WAY harder than winning it 8-10 years back.  To struggle for a decade, and to finally achieve it, one of the great golf stories of the past 20-30 yrs.  Boy and he tried to give it away!

As for my prediction, obviously off off off.  I truly think all the things l listed are real, but to a far less extent I was thinking.  Maybe those were more true back in the 2016-2022 period.  The pressure was huge, especially-obviously on the back 9.  That blocked chip into the creek, that had to be all pressure.  And I think the missed putt on 18 in regulation - that was crazy.  It seemed like he didn’t take any time at all, that had to be insane pressure.  But raising my hand, that pressure and those missed shots were nothing related to any of the factors I listed out!  Just pure pressure, built up over 10 years, man o man.

And watching the emotion, man that is touching, good for him, his family, for golf.

And finally, to the guys I rubbed the wrong way, my bad, really not my style.  You guys have been here for years, I’ve been here for 2 days.  You’ve built a great site and a great community.  Humble apologies, and if you don’t ban me I hope to come back and join up for some lively discussion.  Peace!

Edited April 13 by TommyRude
more stuff!

[iacas]

  On 4/13/2025 at 7:04 PM, TommyRude said:

First reason - physical.  Rory started to bulk up in 2015.

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Because he was suffering some injuries, and wanted to get stronger. He's been a top three golfer in the world for 15 years now.

  On 4/13/2025 at 7:04 PM, TommyRude said:

The bulk up got intense.

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Again… no. That's why I replied with something like "tell me you've never seen Rory in person without saying you've never seen Rory in person."

  On 4/13/2025 at 7:04 PM, TommyRude said:

In my view, this certainly affected his game.

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Yeah, bummer, he's only been a top golfer for 15 years now. And, hey, he's won only 20 times on the PGA Tour alone since the start of 2015.

  On 4/13/2025 at 7:04 PM, TommyRude said:

Fast fwd to 2025 - - it certainly appears he’s tapered off the bulk up?

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Nope.

  On 4/13/2025 at 7:04 PM, TommyRude said:

And he’s definitely risen back up to the top of the world.

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Rory McIlroy Stats | Data Golf

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Rory McIlroy's historical results, stats, rankings, and Data Golf skill profile.

  On 4/13/2025 at 7:04 PM, TommyRude said:

Second reason:  Mental - the whole hyper macho aggressive take: 2025 update - I’ll raise my hand, he seems to have dialed it down considerably. And certainly his recent record reflects whatever macho stuff he might have going is not impacting his play.

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Recent being… what? The last 10 years since the start of 2015? When he's won 20 times on the PGA Tour, and been close to winning the last two U.S. Opens?

Your take wasn't controversial. It was just a lousy take based on bad "info."

[saevel25]

Yea, he has been stupidly good for over 15 years now. Like he hardly ever has a bad round. 

[TommyRude]

My focus was on his record in winning majors, I probably didn’t make that clear. And my take was to highlight certain things that would contribute to him failing under pressure… and pressure being the highest in the majors.

[TommyRude]

@iacas (I’m not working the quote function so well)

Yes, 20 wins, absolutely - one of the best in the world over the past 15 years - I’ll take it further, one of the best ever.  But you can’t argue his record in winning majors since 2014? (until now of course)

Your point on seeing him in person - - not really sure what you’re talking about there.  But I have seen him in person, at the Masters.  I was shocked at how jacked he looked.  He was playing with Jon Rahm, and standing next to Rahm he looked tiny, but super jacked.

Your point about him starting working out to address injuries - that’s true.  My point is that he seemed to take it to an extreme level.  I recall back around 2015-2016 on…  I wasn’t the only one shocked by how jacked he was getting?

And I concede - - his record since the inception-of-jackness has been stellar.  But again - I was pointing to his lack of major wins in the past 10 years.  Again - I concede - he obliterated that this past week, and under the most extreme pressure in golf, exacerbated and intensified by the extreme publicized weight of his record in the past 10 yrs.

[TommyRude]

  On 4/14/2025 at 1:23 AM, iacas said:

Your take wasn't controversial. It was just a lousy take based on bad "info."

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haha no problemo!  If I’m reading your responses correctly, Rory has never done any intense workouts, he’s never bulked up, he’s never been jacked, he’s never exhibited macho behavior, and he’s won 12 major championships in the past 10 years!

[klineka]

  On 4/14/2025 at 2:44 AM, TommyRude said:

If I’m reading your responses correctly

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You arent.

[TommyRude]

  On 4/14/2025 at 2:50 AM, klineka said:

You arent.

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OK. - if you don’t mind, can you explain the below?  I’m slow, need a bit of hand holding.  

7 hours ago, TommyRude said:
The bulk up got intense.
Again… no. That's why I replied with something like "tell me you've never seen Rory in person without saying you've never seen Rory in person."

[iacas]

Dude.