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‘No Disrespect to Blockie’: Rory McIlroy Puts His Foot Down Months After This PGA Pro Made Controversial Remarks About Him

Published 09/15/2023, 10:58 AM EDT

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The amount of love and adoration that comes the Northern Irish professional golfer’s way is truly incomparable. So everyone was obviously taken aback when Michael Block made a controversial statement about the legendary Rory McIlroy’s game. Fans from around the world responded promptly to Michael’s remarks.

And now McIlroy has also broken his silence after months. During a podcast recently, the host asked Rory about the comparison drawn by Michael Block. Rory responded in a polite but strong way, defending his reputation and legacy in the world of golf.

Rory McIlroy’s reply to Block’s statement

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The four-time Major Champion was paired with Michael Block to play the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship. In a post-game interview, Block was asked about the difference between his game and Rory’s. The way he responded came off as offensive to Rory’s global fanbase and Block faced backlash for the same.

Recently, during Rory’s appearance on the GOLF Subpar podcast, he was asked about his response to Michael’s statement. He responded in a very clear and crisp way. Even though he chose kindness, he also made sure to give a powerful response.

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He said: “No disrespect to Blockie, he is an unbelievable shorthand. But.. he struggles to get the 160 ball speed with the driver…I still think I’d be able to manage a way to get inside the top 100 in the world off his tee shots. But whether he would be number one in the world? Well, I find that hard to believe.”

Rory started off by complimenting Block. However, he also gave a straightforward opinion about whether he thinks Michael Block would be world number one or not. All in all, the legend’s stronghold in the world of golf and the hearts of his fans remains intact. Golf enthusiasts from around the world look forward to seeing him play in the Ryder Cup scheduled to begin on the 29th of September in Rome.

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What did Michael Block say to trigger the backlash?

The PGA pro was on a career high where love was pouring in from fans around the World. Block was appreciated for his kind attitude and mastery of the game. However, his response to whether he would just assume Rory is a better golfer than he is was what put a stop to the adulation he had been receiving from golf lovers.

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Block had said, “…What I would shoot from where Rory hits it would be stupid. I think I’d be one of the best players in the world.” Fans took strong exception to the comment. Before long, all hell broke loose.

Watch This Story: ‘Block Party Is Now Over’: Michael Block Leaves Golf World Fuming With His Strong Confession About Rory McIlroy

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Written by:

Daiemah Malik

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Daiemah is a golf writer at EssentiallySports. Having been writing since the age of 12, she has had a keen interest in Golf. Daiemah admires Nelly Korda and Tiger Woods, and would love to see more women excel in the sport.
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Edited by:

Prateek Srivastava

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