Rory McIlroy has come out swinging for Talor Gooch! The LIV Golf player raised questions over the worthiness of the Irish golfer playing and winning at the Augusta National this year. Gooch even went on to call the McIlroy win unsurprising, as many LIV Golf players won’t be able to play.

The comments, however, left the golf world shocked! The Northern Irishman has now stepped up to affirm his stance on his probable completion of a career grand slam being an “asterisk.” The Irish golfer did not hold back on giving out his response and subtly gave a reality check to Gooch in the process.

In a press conference, he said, “The Masters is an invitational, and they will invite whoever they think warrants an invitation.” I think, to be fair to Talor, if you read the entire question and then the answer, I feel like whoever did the interview sort of led him down that path to say that, so I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt here.”

However, the PGA Tour player did add Joaquin Niemann is in the Masters 2024 despite being from LIV Golf. Rory McIlroy called him the ideal candidate to get the special invite for the event, unlike Talor Gooch. The 4x major champion listed the extra miles that the Chilean golfer had gone to make himself visible, like going to Dubai, Australia, and Oman.

McIlroy concluded by saying, “Either play as well for Augusta or show form to warrant an invite and I don’t know if the same can be said for Talor.”

With this statement, the Irish golfer has blasted Talor Gooch for his previous comments. Gooch’s remarks against the PGAT pro,

What did Talor Gooch say about Rory McIlroy?

Following Joaquin Niemann making it to Augusta National, Gooch claimed the Chilean golfer had to go outside LIV Golf and play some great golf. He wished it would have been better if all LIV players were also considered for majors, but the disappointment was “not surprising.” 

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But the real dagger was his comment to McIlroy. Gooch mentioned that even if McIlroy wins the 2024 Masters and completes his career grand slam, it would not be as great because many of the great players who now play in LIV Golf were not on the field. “If Rory McIlroy goes and completes his [career] Grand Slam without some of the best players in the world, there’s just going to be an asterisk. It’s just reality. I think everybody wins whenever the majors figure out a way to get the best players in the world there,” said Gooch.

The OWGR and the major tournaments do not consider LIV Golf players for points or events. However, all this can change if the PGA Tour-PIF merger succeeds. Till then, the way Niemann entered Augusta Nationals will be the only way for LIV Golf players.

Read More: Rory McIlroy: The Pro Who Almost Always Wins