Whats the issue between Rory and Lee ?

Russman

Can anyone shed any light on the "acrimonious relationship" referred to ?

Genuinely curious

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/golf/2012/0306/1224312904571.html

Kace

The only thing that I notice from the Twitter interactions between the two is that Westwood has given a few shly digs re some of McIlroy's tweets about his new sqeeze. I would not be at all surprised if McIlroy has taken offense to these affronts.

In fairness I would be in complete agreement with Westwood's tweets - some of McIlroy's schoolboy crush-type tweets are cringewothy to put it mildly.

Also - since Westwood sent a few of these a couple of months back I haven't seen him respond to anything McIlroy has sent to date.

Keano

Presume it's to do with Lee's comments after Rory's meltdown and his statement that it was bizarre that Rory left ISM.

SnowDrifts

Think they disagreed on Rory's management switch decision. Westwood's last tweet to Rory was on the day the decision was announced and he simply said "Bizarre decision".

Since then, there has been no twitter communication. Might be an idea to sort it out before the Ryder Cup!

brick tamland

How did they get on at the WGC Matchplay, were they seen to be chatting or anything?


I know matchplay can be Different at times though were even mates don’t talk/chat that much depending on the person

Trampas

Westwood hardly exuded warmth on that theme again last night, as he admitted they did not spend much time in each other’s company. “Rory doesn’t want time with the people who manage me, and I don’t want to spend much time with the people who manage Rory,” he said.

Mr. Larson

Westwood is raging because Mc Ilroy is better than him.

ozymandias10

I think this is the Media blowing up something that isn't there...they were pretty good mates...McIlroy changed stable.. Lee is the most high profilr from chandlers stable so the media is looking to see what iis the problem....they did a golf challenge in china together and got on well with good banter..I think its nothing but the media in particular the american press would love if there was an issue to build up the rivalry

Russman

The commentators at the WGC mildly referred to some sort of edge in the match alright but I didn't know what it meant exactly.

WHIP IT!

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Think they disagreed on Rory's management switch decision. Westwood's last tweet to Rory was on the day the decision was announced and he simply said "Bizarre decision".

Since then, there has been no twitter communication. Might be an idea to sort it out before the Ryder Cup!

It goes back further than that in my opinion. McIlroy and Poulter were indulging in a bit of childish name-calling etc aimed at Westwood on Twitter a while before all that. Poulter put up an unflattering old pic of Westwood and Rory had an 'at least I'm not English' back-and-forth with him.

We actually had a thread about it here at the time I'm sure. It was pretty silly and, I felt, didn't reflect well on either McIlroy or Poulter and it seemed inevitable Westwood would eventually distance himself somewhat from one or the other or both.

Nobody likes to be laughed at, whether you're a young schoolkid or a millionaire golfer - and it appeared Westwood's relationship with McIlroy, at least, was beginning to cool around then.

I also remember when Rory won at Quail Hollow (came home in 29), it was a couple weeks after Westwood had kind of blown it at a Major when he was leading the final day (can anyone recall, US Open maybe?) and Westwood greeted Rory coming off the 18th at QH - McIlroy shook his hand and said "that's how you finish off a golf tournament". He then repeated that line in his interview afterward ("I told Lee 'that's how you finish off a golf tournament'.").

Granted he was (and still is) just a kid but it was an incredibly insensitive thing to say and I'm sure Westwood, having hung around to support him as he wrapped up his first PGA Tour win, felt like wringing his neck at the time!

Mr. Larson

Westwood tried to psych Rory out at a major tournament after the Masters (indirectly through the media) with a few unsavoury comments such as "Rory does tend to snap-hook under pressure". He was basically implying that he could well choke and that it wasn't over.

WHIP IT!

Jabberwocky wrote: »

Westwood tried to psych Rory out at a major tournament after the Masters (indirectly through the media) with a few unsavoury comments such as "Rory does tend to snap-hook under pressure". He was basically implying that he could well choke and that it wasn't over.

Have you a link/source for that JW? Not doubting you, just never heard it before. If that's true, it would appear Westwood is not as innocent in all of this as I thought.

On a sidenote, I think Westwood is destined to become this generation's Monty. I can't see him ever winning a major. He is, for me, the best driver of a golf ball in the world, but he just doesn't have a polished enough short-game and, maybe, just doesn't quite have it between the ears either.

Mr. Larson

You will just have to take my word for it, Whip. I remember the interview quite well. Westwood was being bullish about his chances but spent most of the time talking about how Rory was vulnerable. He mentioned stuff like, 'we all remember what happened at Augusta' in addition to the snap-hook comment. I was always a big fan of Westwood but that turned me off him completely at the time. I just remember thinking he turned into a a bit of sour prick at the time.

SnowDrifts

You might be right Whip IT but I think the management switch might have been the final straw.

Westwood gave as much as he got though. He made a few digs about Rory's meltdown at the masters. Just a few days before they stopped tweeting each other, they were on a private flight where Rory was sitting in the cockpit and Lee said on twitter - "Captain mcilroy at the controls! Hope we don't miss the runway left!" in an obvious jibe at the 10th? at Augusta.

Leslie91

Rory has said some silly things no doubt about that. Even still before he left ISM the lads were always eating and drinking together. There is no doubt there was a friendlyish rivalry going on in terms of who was the better golfer. Westwood threw out some digs etc.

Then Rory said F this I'm getting out of the drinking boys (Clarke too) club that is ISM, I'm too young and too good a player to have those distractions. Westwood is v close to Chubby and probably thought F that little upstart thinking he is all that leaving us.

Rory has done the right thing. He should just play golf now, avoid the twitter spats and if Westwood is chidish enough to continue with his attitude to Rory, someone i.e. Chubby needs to have a word.

denishurley

Snap-hook comment, among other info

newport2

denishurley wrote: »

Snap-hook comment, among other info

Thanks for the link, hadn't heard that. Bit of a stupid comment to make, particularly at that time

Trampas

i remember lee saying that.

It is all down to chubby. Rory left ism and lee is probably not happy with his comments.

why rory left could be due to drinking culture or maybe he didn't like not been the big fish in the pond which he is getting with horizon. we will never know the real truth for years.

lee and poulter is still talk over twitter.

lee would be the best golfer in the world if he could chip. his chipping is terrible and putting to much pressure on his putting. he should see tony johnstone to sort it out

blackwaterfish

i love the needle between them... the more the better... between all pro golfers for that matter.

altho i'm not sure they themselves take it too seriously.

would love to see sparks between an in-form TW and a swashbuckling Mickleson again. its all too nicey nicey respectful at the mo.

BiffoGooner

Wouldn't be anything to do with the fact that Rory achieved at 22 what Westwood hasn't been able to do his entire career and win a Major, would it.?

FixdePitchmark

Big mistake By Westwood to drop Rory for chubby. Guess who will be bigger in the game in 10 years.

It looks like the lads have tried to let him know you don't leave their gang kind of thing.

Sad - a bit of school boy stuff.

tricky D

brick tamland wrote: »

How did they get on at the WGC Matchplay, were they seen to be chatting or anything?

Russman wrote: »

The commentators at the WGC mildly referred to some sort of edge in the match alright but I didn't know what it meant exactly.

There was one hole where Westwood made McIlroy putt out when it usually would be a given which was less than helpful.

gorfield

Plain and simple. From a very reliable source.

Truth be known....Westwood is part owner of the IMG group along with Clarke. Rory being the highest ranked player wasnt getting a fair slice of the pie. So smartly moved to Horizon sports and is now top dog there.

So with Rory leaving and taking all his deals with him its affected Lee's pocket and company.

End of.

1916

gorfield wrote: »

So with Rory leaving and taking all his deals with him its affected Lee's pocket and company

I presume with existing deals ISM still retains their cut?

blackwaterfish

gorfield wrote: »

Plain and simple. From a very reliable source.

Truth be known....Westwood is part owner of the IMG group along with Clarke. Rory being the highest ranked player wasnt getting a fair slice of the pie. So smartly moved to Horizon sports and is now top dog there.

So with Rory leaving and taking all his deals with him its affected Lee's pocket and company.

End of.

So basically Westwood is Darth Vadar & Rory is Luke skywalker.... wonder what'll happen when he finds out who his real dad is?

blackwaterfish

1916 wrote: »

I presume with existing deals ISM still retains their cut?

arent the IMG contracts still in place for a couple of more years and his Horizon negotiated contracts not due for revenue stream until after then?

i could be completey talking out of my ..... .

dvemail

WHIP IT! wrote: »

It goes back further than that in my opinion. McIlroy and Poulter were indulging in a bit of childish name-calling etc aimed at Westwood on Twitter a while before all that. Poulter put up an unflattering old pic of Westwood and Rory had an 'at least I'm not English' back-and-forth with him.

We actually had a thread about it here at the time I'm sure. It was pretty silly and, I felt, didn't reflect well on either McIlroy or Poulter and it seemed inevitable Westwood would eventually distance himself somewhat from one or the other or both.

Nobody likes to be laughed at, whether you're a young schoolkid or a millionaire golfer - and it appeared Westwood's relationship with McIlroy, at least, was beginning to cool around then.

I also remember when Rory won at Quail Hollow (came home in 29), it was a couple weeks after Westwood had kind of blown it at a Major when he was leading the final day (can anyone recall, US Open maybe?) and Westwood greeted Rory coming off the 18th at QH - McIlroy shook his hand and said "that's how you finish off a golf tournament". He then repeated that line in his interview afterward ("I told Lee 'that's how you finish off a golf tournament'.").

Granted he was (and still is) just a kid but it was an incredibly insensitive thing to say and I'm sure Westwood, having hung around to support him as he wrapped up his first PGA Tour win, felt like wringing his neck at the time!

Remember that alright, that was when Westwood lost the Masters to Phil Mickelson after leading it for a while in the final round. That was fairly insensitive of McIlroy alright when you look back at it.

Neither party have been afraid to dish it out, but both seem to be unable to take it on the chin and it seems to be getting a bit more personal nowadays.

I reckon in ISM there probably just wasn't enough room for as many personalities in one stable. McIlroy probably felt he deserved more attention from Chubby, but wasn't getting enough as Chubby is always going to be more loyal to his good friends Westwood and Clarke. Not that either don't deserve it.

L.O.F.T

blackwaterfish wrote: »

arent the IMG contracts still in place for a couple of more years and his Horizon negotiated contracts not due for revenue stream until after then?

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0306/1224312851126.html

Many of those sponsorship deals (with Titleist, Oakley, Jumeirah, Auddemars Piguet, EA Sports) were signed before he became a Major champion and reached number one in the world and won’t be up for renewal until 2014/2015 in most cases. However, his new status – as the game’s newest superstar and his ever-increasing appeal in the United States and globally – should be reflected in those new contract negotiations by his management group, Dublin-based Horizon Sports.

Since his move to Horizon from ISM – who are still entitled to their cut of any sponsorship deals negotiated on their watch – it seems that everything that McIlroy has touched has turned to gold, with a quite spectacular run of form that has seen him contend virtually week-in and week-out in Asia, the Middle East and the United States.

blackwhite

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Big mistake By Westwood to drop Rory for chubby. Guess who will be bigger in the game in 10 years.

Rory's got a lot of boozing to do if he's gonna get as big as Chubby!

Matt Santos

McIlroy and Westwood were very good friends and the banter previously was all in good faith and neither was gettin particularly wound up with it but then a certain meeting took place. This meeting transformed the attitude of the young McIlroy and kick started a number of things.
1. The awesome display at Congressional where he simply destroyed all around him!
2. By doing that he banished the final round doubts from Augusta and became tempered steel to that type of situation.
3. The start of an incredible run of form that is evident in his results over the last 12 Tournaments.
4. The move from ISM to Horizon that was planted in his skull from the same meeting and was acted upon with incredible stealth.
5. With this move becoming the number one client and corner stone of Horizons future and guaranteeing his care going forward.

The meeting was with Jack Nicklaus and he got through to McIlroy that he had an incredible natural talent and that he owed it to himself, his family, his country and his sport to be the superstar that he had the potential to be. He managed to counsel him through his back nine Augusta collapse and put an indelible confidence back in his mind and game.
His connection to Jack was evident after he shot 66 in the Memorial (Jacks Tourney) in Muirfield and eventually finished 5th behind Stricker. It was only a fortnight after that he tore apart the US Open Congressional with Jacks advice still ringing in his ears...

foxyboxer

Matt Santos wrote: »

McIlroy and Westwood were very good friends and the banter previously was all in good faith and neither was gettin particularly wound up with it but then a certain meeting took place. This meeting transformed the attitude of the young McIlroy and kick started a number of things.
1. The awesome display at Congressional where he simply destroyed all around him!
2. By doing that he banished the final round doubts from Augusta and became tempered steel to that type of situation.
3. The start of an incredible run of form that is evident in his results over the last 12 Tournaments.
4. The move from ISM to Horizon that was planted in his skull from the same meeting and was acted upon with incredible stealth.
5. With this move becoming the number one client and corner stone of Horizons future and guaranteeing his care going forward.

The meeting was with Jack Nicklaus and he got through to McIlroy that he had an incredible natural talent and that he owed it to himself, his family, his country and his sport to be the superstar that he had the potential to be. He managed to counsel him through his back nine Augusta collapse and put an indelible confidence back in his mind and game.
His connection to Jack was evident after he shot 66 in the Memorial (Jacks Tourney) in Muirfield and eventually finished 5th behind Stricker. It was only a fortnight after that he tore apart the US Open Congressional with Jacks advice still ringing in his ears...

What struck me after the Masters 'collapse' was how maturely he handled it.
He basically said that he didn't understand what the fuss was about and basically it wasn't as if someone had died. His attitude was "It's only a game".

I blew my 4 shot lead and shot 80 at the Masters - "It's only a game"
I blew the field away at Congressional weeks later - "It's only a game"

With an attitude like that he'll be a top player for a long time.

In the past few weeks there was talk of McIlroy working on his swing.
Not being a swing tinkerer like Woods or Harrington, he had to publicly state that he was simply working on the fundamentals (grip, stance etc) and wasn't making any swing 'changes'.

Perhaps that Nicklaus 'summit' meeting did indeed make a big impression. When you're afforded a private meeting with a winner of 18 majors then you bloody well listen to his advice!

Nicklaus said at the 2010 Masters that he couldn't understand how the modern players had coaches for everything when all he did himself was see Jack Grout maybe twice a year to take a look at his swing. McIlroy is perhaps adopting a similar mentality. His swing is unique and doesn't require a Tiger Woods-esque MOT every four seasons.

Trampas

Who are people behind Horizon Sports?

As their website is all flash and no substance.

Leslie91

Trampas wrote: »

Who are people behind Horizon Sports?

As their website is all flash and no substance.

Main man is Conor Ridge. I don't know a whole lot about him but Fisher joined him when he was playing v well as did McDowell, so he's no Johnny come lately.