Rory McIlroy responds to Kevin Kisner's digs about 'very odd' DP World India Championship trip
Rory McIlroy responds to Kevin Kisner's digs about 'very odd' DP World India Championship trip
Sam FrostSun, October 18, 2026 at 10:33 AM UTC
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Rory McIlroy denied Kevin Kisner's claim that he is only playing in India for the money -Credit:Luke Walker/Getty Images (Luke Walker/Getty Images)
NEW DELHI — Rory McIlroy has dismissed Kevin Kisner's claim that his only interest in playing the DP World India Championship was for a handsome appearance fee.
McIlroy was the star attraction of a stacked field at Delhi Golf Club, with Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Patrick Reed among others to make the trip. It was a disappointing week on the course for the six-time major winner, finishing with a two-over-par 74 to end the week at four under, miles off the pace set by leader Eugenio Chacarra.
But McIlroy, making his second appearance in the $4 million tournament, said he has relished the experience in New Delhi and emphasized the importance of India to golf's future, despite Kisner's digs.
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"I didn't see that. I don't know why me being in India would make Kis need to comment on that," McIlroy told reporters when informed of Kisner's comments.
"Two things can be true at the same time. People can get paid to come and play at a tournament, but at the same time, do it from a place of a genuine interest of trying to bring the sport to another country, a developing country, a country where the middle class in India is larger than the whole population of the United States. It's a huge market for golf."
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Four-time PGA Tour winner Kisner, now NBC's lead golf analyst, made the comments on the 'Fore Play Podcast,' hitting out at McIlroy's previous comments about trying to grow the game in developing markets.
Kisner claimed McIlroy has no interest in growing golf in India -Credit:Megan Briggs/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images
"That is such a dog s--- comment, but I guess for the right price, we could all say that comment," Kisner said. "He doesn’t want to globally expand in India; he wants to get his $10 million bucks and go play in India.
"I know there’s a pile of guys that got paid for that event. How else would you get that event in India with eight billion people in the middle of the city?
"And Rory’s not even hitting a driver this week. You think he wants to go play a tournament where he can’t use his No. 1 weapon? So give me a break.”
Kisner continued: "They always seem to say the right things while they’re over there. As part of your appearance fee, 'Here’s your script for altruism, and you need to mention these four lines in whatever interview you do throughout the week,' which is totally fine, I’d do it too, and all of us on this podcast would.
"I just find it hilarious when you can pop up and play an event where Rory McIlroy can’t hit his driver, and all those guys show up, and nobody’s like, ‘Alright, this is stupid’, when they can go play the sickest course in the world, and none of them show up. It’s just very odd to me.”
McIlroy will return to action next month in Abu Dhabi for the beginning of the DP World Tour playoffs. He is chasing a record-equaling eighth Race to Dubai title, but he has plenty of work to do with Chacarra set to open up a big lead if he holds on for victory in New Delhi.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
