Tour News
McIlroy will play for Ireland in the 2016 Olympics
On the eve of the Irish Open, here’s a Rory McIlroy story not related to the golfer’s clubs getting lost by an airline: Clad appropriately in a green shirt a pre-tournament press conference, the Ulsterman stated he’ll play for Ireland at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The announcement ends more than a year of speculation as to whether the 25-year-old will play for Great Britain, Ireland, or no one (choosing to opt out of the politicized situation and not pick a side). Northern Ireland, of course, is part of Great Britain in Olympic competitions.
Even a casual observer of world news is a aware of the history of conflict and geopolitical tensions between Northern Ireland and Ireland. So the difficulty of McIlroy’s decision, and the reality that he’d upset a percentage of the population in at least one country, caused him to proceed with caution.
A determining factor in McIlroy’s choice: the fact that he played amateur golf for Ireland.
“I have been thinking about the decision a lot and remembered all the times I represented Ireland as an amateur,” McIlroy said.
If the fact that soccer fan McIlroy’s announcement is coming during the World Cup (also in Brazil) seems coincidental, here’s why:
“There is no point in delaying it,” he said. “I was watching some of the World Cup and thinking about Brazil in a couple of years time. It really got me thinking that maybe I should just go ahead and get it out of the way. I am really looking forward now to the Olympics in a couple of years time.”
Golf returns to the Olympics in 2016 for the first time since 1904.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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JB
Jun 18, 2014 at 1:13 pm
AJ: To say “he’s not Irish” is a sweeping generalization–tell Darren Clarke or GMac that he’s not at all Irish and see the reaction you’ll get. Nobody disputes your factual description of the Troubles, but your tone with the first blogger was a bit condescending.
More importantly, Rory has again handled a difficult personal conundrum with class. The game is in good hands. Good for him for handling the situation early.
JOEL GOODMAN
Jun 18, 2014 at 2:48 pm
HE HAS PROVEN TO BE A CLASSLESS PUNK BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURSE. WALKING OFF THE HONDA CLASSIC BECAUSE OF A “TOOTHACHE” AND DUMPING HIS GAL AFTER THE WEDDING INVITATIONS ARE MAILED.I AM DELIGHTED HE WILL NOT BE REPRESENTING THE USA. SOMEONE SHOULD TAKE THIS BRAT UNDER THEIR WING AND TELL HIM HOW MEN ACT. MAYBE SOME DAY HE’LL GROW UP, BUT NOW HE’S JUST A PUNK KID. WITH A TON OF MONEY.
Hugh Myron
Jun 18, 2014 at 3:53 pm
You sound so mad right now. Do you even golf?
JK
Jun 18, 2014 at 4:15 pm
I thinK rory banged his GF
Brandon Hughes
Jun 18, 2014 at 5:29 pm
Did you even read the article? Where did you get that he would play for the USA? He isn’t an american. He is from Northern Ireland. He had a choice to play for Great Britain or Ireland. He did nothing wrong by dumping his girl prior to the wedding. That is better than getting married and getting a divorce after a couple years because he was never happy. And she had pink hair at The Masters. No wonder why he kicked her to the curb
earmuffs
Jun 18, 2014 at 11:32 pm
Stop yelling please
ND Hickman
Jun 19, 2014 at 7:53 am
… Why would he be representing the USA? Interesting logic.
cally
Jun 19, 2014 at 8:49 am
Haha…funny shame
TJ
Jun 18, 2014 at 10:35 am
An Irish kid playing for Ireland who would have thunk it. I am not Irish so I guess I don’t really understand the conflict entirely but for me it makes sense as he played for them as an amateur. Good luck it will be cool to see what sort of format they will play. unless this has already been explained if so please feel free to inform me.
AJ
Jun 18, 2014 at 11:33 am
TJ – the point is he’s not Irish. That’s why people are writing about it. They are two separate countries who until very recently were still killing each other with car bombs.
Is that so hard to understand?
JK
Jun 18, 2014 at 1:21 pm
If he’s not Irish than why can he choose? It’s not like I can choose to play for Germany if I was good enough.
MHendon
Jun 18, 2014 at 5:33 pm
Actually he is Irish, Northern Irish. I just so happened to have played with a guy the other day from Ireland and he explained it all to me. There are six counties in Ireland that don’t really fall under English or Irish rule. On any given day the people from that area can claim to be Irish or English. Lets face it Mcilroy is clearly an Irish name and he identifies himself as Irish so that’s who he should represent. And by the way they are still killing each other with car bombs, its just our U.S. media doesn’t care anymore. Or as the way this fella I played with put it, they have a very good tourism board over there.
patrick walsh
Jun 18, 2014 at 5:35 pm
aj- obviously you don’t know what you are talking about, he is Irish. People from northern I reland still consider themselves Irish. Especially if they are Catholic, which Rory is. To me this is a no brainer for him.
Elizabeth
Jun 18, 2014 at 6:44 pm
Anyone born on the island of Ireland is Irish – be it north, south, east or west!
ND Hickman
Jun 19, 2014 at 7:56 am
Except Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom whereas the Republic of Ireland is an independent nation.