Georgie Bingham: I love Rory for his imperfections
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after chipping in for birdie from the bunker on the 18th green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
I, like many, have marvelled and crushed on Rory McIllroy this year. I defended him vociferously when his final round at St Andrews didn’t quite take flight and his solid but unspectacular 70 was completely obliterated by Cameron Smith; he didn’t lose, Smith won - he didn’t capitulate, he just didn’t get red hot.
I do however go back to that day a lot - especially after Smith netted his biggest payday of the year over 54 holes on the breakaway tour this weekend. I am kind of sad that McIlroy couldn’t make Open history; it was there to be written by him. But I’ve written about him coming back this year and I feel like I wasn’t wrong. I am not the only golf fan or journalist crushing big-time on Rory, there’s just something about him that makes us want to watch him, whether the outcome is as it was at the season ending Fedex, or as it was, agonisingly at Wentworth (and in Italy too!).
I have come to the conclusion that my Rory love is actually due to his imperfections. The complexity with someone as talented as McIlroy is that their best sets the standard we then judge them by. It happens all the time with the very best sportsmen. We judge Tiger 3.0 on his Tiger 1.0 years. In football, we judged Wayne Rooney ALL his career on the audacity he showed in the first three seasons after he exploded onto the scene. We look at pre 2014 Rory in everything he does. We really like Rory 2022; a man not afraid to have his principles, to give his opinions and to take a couple of weeks off and spend it with his daughter when his schedule allows.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the 18th hole during the final round of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 17, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images).
We just want Rory 2022 to be 100% on ALL THE TIME. I know that when he finishes 2nd, 3rd, 4th, he can do better - not just a shot better, but ten shots better. I think that’s half the reason I find Rory so captivating is how his magic switch goes on and off at random, creating a golfer that on one hand defies the laws of what is normal, and on the other sees him fall back into the pack any second with a triple bogey 7. It’s the fact that watching him is such a ride and until the last ball is sunk nothing is certain.
He’s a rollercoaster but I’d rather watch him even if he is having a horror show, in fact the only other player I think we have seen with that appeal is Tiger Woods. This year, Rory has found his voice, and has also found his place near the top of the leaderboard a lot more than he has been doing in the last 5 years. But when he plays and just misses out my thought is always that he should have won, no matter who ends up taking home the big cheque.
Turns out, watching him lose is as fascinating as watching him win. Not many have that appeal.
Georgie Bingham, broadcaster and journalist, writes a bi-weekly column for The Cut Stuff. She’s golf obsessed. She’s ready to go behind the tour.
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