News
Rory McIlroy questions the merit of internet sensation Hosung Choi’s Pebble Beach invite
Rory McIlroy’s frankness has at times rubbed people the wrong way, but a large portion of golf fans appreciate his openness and honesty when speaking to the media, and for those fans at least, McIlroy obliged once again this week while discussing the internet sensation Hosung Choi.
Choi, who has become a cult hero in the golfing world for his unusual behavior on the course, will make his first ever start on the PGA Tour at next month’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at the age of 45. Though the majority of golf fans were thrilled when the news broke and are excited to see him in action stateside, McIlroy, while speaking before this week’s Farmers Insurance Open, questioned whether the viral star deserved his place in the field.
“Whether he should be taking a spot away from a PGA Tour player at a PGA Tour event, I’m not so sure.”
The Irishman’s statement is surprising since the South Korean tasted victory on the Japan Golf Tour back in November and has risen over 300 places in the Official World Golf Ranking in just 12 months, to a career-high position of 193rd in the world. But while McIlroy appears skeptical over the merit of Choi’s invite, he revealed his positive take on the 45-year-old’s swing.
“I mean, technically his swing is good. If you watch it up until impact, he’s technically got a pretty good swing. He’s obviously a pretty good player.”
Concerning Choi’s antics following making impact with the ball, while the majority of golf fans find Choi’s reactions both fascinating and hilarious, McIlroy believes that the South Korean may be trying a little too hard.
“I’m not sure a golf shot should mean that much to you that you’re doing that after you hit it like it’s just trying a little too hard. You have to try hard at golf, but that’s taking it to an extreme.”
Rory McIlroy is playing this week’s Farmers Insurance Open for the first time and tees it up in today’s opening round alongside Rickie Fowler and Adam Scott on Torrey Pines’ South Course.
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Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos
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News
Four books for a springtime review
One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.
There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.
Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.
Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.
My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.
Decision: Buy It!
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.
Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.
My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.
Decision: Buy It!!
Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal
Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.
One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.
Decision: Buy It!!!
Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie
Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.
Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.
My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.
Decision: Buy Them!!!!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Lovejoy
Jan 27, 2019 at 8:58 am
McIlroy is a fool with no authority to question sponsor’s invites and if he’s so concerned about players lacking merit taking tournament spots why doesn’t he go to the Tour and ask for all exemptions to be cancelled and restoration of qualifying rounds?
Nathan
Jan 26, 2019 at 5:25 am
Did Rory get sponsor invites when he was starting out ?? I haven’t looked into it –
but I’m sure he would of.
Liberty Apples
Jan 25, 2019 at 11:10 pm
When Rory puts up the $7.6 million, he can decide who’s in the field. Until then, zip it.
ND Hickman
Jan 25, 2019 at 2:24 pm
I’m inclined to agree. It feels like Choi (entertaining as he is) is being given the spot in place of someone potentially more deserving.
TZ
Jan 27, 2019 at 9:33 am
Deserve has nothing to do with it!
ND Hickman
Jan 28, 2019 at 3:25 am
Cool so why not invite more ladies to play in men’s events?
Jose Pinatas
Jan 25, 2019 at 2:19 pm
This is good for the game, and will get more people to pay attention. No different than giving sponsor exemptions to Steph Curry, Michelle Wie, or any other well liked/popular person. Rory can say what he wants when a reporter asks a question, it’s his opinion and we should leave it at that.
FritoBandito
Jan 25, 2019 at 12:18 pm
The dude has won as much the past year or so as McIlroy. I question Rory’s merits since the new drug testing policy.
ht
Jan 25, 2019 at 11:04 am
I don’t dislike Rory, but it seems like he’s been salty over the past 1-2 years for the sake of being salty. This is the kind of thing that gets people to tune in and it’s the reason sponsors are given exemptions.
TonyK
Jan 24, 2019 at 7:37 pm
Choi partially lost his right-hand thumb when he was 20 years old while he was working in the fishing industry (hence the “fisherman’s” swing). After working as a driving range attendant, he started playing golf at the age of 25. Became the pro at 27 in just 15 months. You may not like his swing, but how could anyone not love his story?
Eric Vallee
Jan 24, 2019 at 2:09 pm
Sponsors exemptions are common place. Selling tickets is the whole point of them. This happens almost every week. This guy just happens to be outlandish.
NA NA
Jan 24, 2019 at 12:57 pm
hater
Tay
Jan 24, 2019 at 11:23 am
They should give Choi an exemption into an event where Rory is playing and pair them together for the first two rounds!!!!!!!!!!
Shallowface
Jan 24, 2019 at 10:32 am
Choi will actually sell some tickets, unlike most of the players playing today. Drawing money, eyeballs and putting people in seats is the only thing that matters in the entertainment business, of which professional golf is a very small part.
Professional entertainers, no matter the variety, need to remember that the ONLY reason they get to do that which they do is because someone wants to watch it. Professional golfers historically are among the most forgetful of this most basic of principles.
Dave
Jan 24, 2019 at 10:38 am
I think you are spot on but I also think that Rory has a legit point. He is taking the place of someone “more” deserving. I, for one, am pretty excited to watch Choi play. From an entertainment standpoint, this will be awesome. If Choi makes the cut, the weekend will be awesome. Maybe even pair him with Rory!
1 iron
Jan 24, 2019 at 9:57 pm
What’s the matter Rory., you afraid he may take away your thunder
MhtLion
Jan 25, 2019 at 2:20 pm
I think we can also say whoever sells more tickets and earns more viewing is more deserving. Shallowface is spot on. This is an entertainment industry, not academic.