Rory McIlroy

horsebox wrote: Shedite wrote: horsebox wrote: Green Cockade wrote: True, likely because it’s a bit easier to qualify with Team Ireland rather than issues regarding identity. Exactly. Their British until they realise they haven't a hope of representing them in the major championships. In Athletics which I would follow, there is a few athletes from the North that would very rarely set foot in the 26, while there are others of a Unionist persuasion never had an issue competing in and for Ireland until the tricolour. Sports like swimming and athletics too, a lot of athletes were able to get funding from both Dublin and London, handy little boost for them Are you sure about that? I'm not so sure. Here is the funding for the athletes  - https://athleticsireland.app.box.com/v/21CardingList There are a few athletes on that list from or can compete for NI and will represent NI in the Commonwealth games but I know none of them have represented Team GB - which are listed here. https://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/congratulations-team-ni Irwin and Marrs have not represented Ireland and are not on the funded list. McCauley has represented Ireland but is not being funded by AI.

I remember Andrew Bree talking about it a few years back, RTE interviewer asked something like "How come Northern Ireland produces so many good swimmers" to which he went on to say you basically get all the facilities provided by Team GB but then get more funding provided by Irish Swimming body. 

irishmufc wrote: oldbilly wrote: I don’t know why, as I’ve little or no interest in golf, but watching mcilroy lose warms the cockles, can’t stand the lad. +1 The Gerry Armstrong of golf.

I would still support Rory as he from Ireland and represented Ireland but obviously some of his comments in the past about maybe feeling more British were a bit of a kick in the teeth as a proud Irish man and for those reasons I mentally wouldn't have him at the same level of support and find joy in his wins in the same way I would have for the likes of Lowry winning a tournament.

Edited by t_rAndy - 18 Jul 2022 at 6:04pm

He tries to sit on the fence and being from that part of Ireland you want to be diplomatic and sit on the fence except that he hasnt made a great job of that and has let alip on a few occassions that he sees himself more "them" than "us".

Green Cockade wrote: True, likely because it’s a bit easier to qualify with Team Ireland rather than issues regarding identity.

Green Cockade wrote: He did represent Ireland at the last Olympics. He could have played for Team Great Britain ( a branding name that irked unionists by excluding NI-they wanted it changed to Team UK ) but he chose to stay with Ireland as he had represented them through the youth structures. He did once say that he felt more British than Irish, and his background growing up in Holywood would have been typical of many Alliance Party types who are not exercised by traditional nationalist/unionist politics and whose votes are ultimately likely to decide a border poll, but he is no Declan Rice at the end of the day.

He did represent Ireland at the last Olympics. He could have played for Team Great Britain ( a branding name that irked unionists by excluding NI-they wanted it changed to Team UK ) but he chose to stay with Ireland as he had represented them through the youth structures. He did once say that he felt more British than Irish, and his background growing up in Holywood would have been typical of many Alliance Party types who are not exercised by traditional nationalist/unionist politics and whose votes are ultimately likely to decide a border poll, but he is no Declan Rice at the end of the day.

Edited by Green Cockade - 18 Jul 2022 at 10:59am

Don’t understand the hate.  

Drumcondra 69er wrote: You Tell Me wrote: He completely blew it today, the course in those conditions was playing about a par 68 for those lads, so 70 was a poor score when it mattered most. Nine years now without a major by the time the masters rolls around next April. Have to think having his mate caddying for him instead of a proper professional caddy has cost him a couple of majors in the last few years. Might only count for 3 or 4 shots over 72 holes but that was the difference between winning and losing today. Think that's overly harsh. No bogeys, hit every green in regulation, no three putts. He didn't do anything wrong per ce.  Not saying he didn't need to to do more but for someone to hit six under on one back nine at the final day of a major is genuinely staggering stuff. It was incredible from Smith.

Edited by BrendanD88 - 18 Jul 2022 at 12:24am