Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington plays down Rory McIlroy’s decision to stay put between majors
Rory McIlroy’s decision to stay put till the Open Championship after his historic victory at the US Open this year, has invited criticism from not only the outsiders but also from many of the English golfers, who rendered his decision as childish and without
foresight.
McIlroy posted his first major victory at Congressional Country Club for the 111thUS Open where he won with a staggering eight-stroke lead over Australian Jason Day. Just 22 years of age, the Irishman pulled out of the French Open on the European
Tour and announced that he will not be playing professional golf any sooner than the Open Championship at Sandwich. Colin Montgomerie, the grizzled Veteran of English golf, criticized his decision on all the more logical ground and predicted that his decision
is likely to cost him dearly in the championship.
“He's so natural I don't think there are any fears about his game, but it's the locker room - there are going to be so many people wanting to congratulate him. Whether it was the French or the Scottish Open he could have got that out of his system and out
of the way so he can start the Open afresh,” said Montgomerie.
Many of McIlroy’s fans criticized Montgomerie’s comments saying the 48-year-old Englishman should have been more careful with his comments as they have come out at inappropriate times. Montgomerie, despite of his 40 professional wins around the world, never
won a single major in his life. He has five runner-up finishes in major events one of them coming at the Open Championship in 2005.
Padraig Harrington, another of the elite players to have come out of Northern Ireland, agreed with Montgomerie’s views regarding McIlroy’s decisions to stay out of professional events for a longer time than necessary.
“When you've won and you go to your next tournament there are 155 other players and 155 other caddies who want to say 'Well done',” said Harrington who has won the Open Championship twice in his career in 2007 and 2008.
Having turned professional in 1995, Harrington has spent 16 years in professional golf and knows what he is talking about. He has also won the 2008 PGA Championship and is considered one of the most successful players from Northern Ireland.
Harrington and Montgomerie were talking at the launching ceremony of the “HSBC Ultimate Open 18”. Montgomerie has not been able to qualify for the Open Championship and is hoping to post a top five finish at the Barclays Scottish Open to reserve a place
for the third major of the season. The Englishman has never missed the Open Championship for the last 22 years and declared that this might be his last chance to make it through.
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