Hall of Famer: Rory McIlroy was let down by PGA Tour boss

Rory McIlroy was let down and will look back on this period with regret, this Hall of Famer says.

16 Jun 2023

Dame Laura Davies says she believes Rory McIlroy may look back with regret over a tumultuous period in men's professional golf after PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan 'let him down'.

Davies, 59, spoke exclusively to GolfMagic about a range of topics: chief of which was McIlroy, Monahan and the surprise agreement between LIV Golf, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

She also offered her thoughts on Rose Zhang, the breakout LPGA Tour star who has been breaking Tiger Woods' collegiate records.

Players reacted with shock and anger at the proposal between the established tours and Saudi Arabia's vast PIF.

None more so than McIlroy, who told the world during an uncomfortable news conference in Canada he felt as though he was the tour's sacrificial lamb.

Dame Laura, who believes with '100 per cent certainty' that McIlroy will win at least five majors over the next five years, said: "I think Rory was put in a position by the commissioner where he was kind of the spokesman, and I think the commissioner's let him down, given what he's done."

She added:

"Top pros don't have to do that sort of thing. They'll do the bare minimum. But [McIlroy] has gone over the edge to just say the PGA Tour's the place to be, and he thought he had the backing of the commissioner and now, maybe he'll look back on the last 18 months and think: 'Why did I do that because we're all back together again now anyways?'"

Davies admitted she thinks something is "not quite there" for McIlroy at the moment, but she can't say his off-course responsibilities have completely affected his form.

"He's still finishing top five, top seven, every given week and had a chance in Canada," she said. "But something's not quite there for him, I don't know what it is. He hits bad shots at the wrong time. Which, players like him, they don't normally do that. If they ever miss – it's in the right spot."

Ultimately, she added:

"He's unfairly judged because he's so good."

Hall of Famer Davies has won more than 80 times internationally throughout her career, including four majors.

Of those wins, 20 came on the LPGA Tour. There is no denying Dame Laura was an LPGA Tour star.

Now the game has another one and her name is Rose Zhang.

Zhang had an incredible collegiate career, breaking numerous NCAA and Stanford records - including one held by Woods - before turning professional a few weeks ago.

In her first professional start, the young star won the Mizuho Americas Open in a playoff over Jennifer Kupcho.

"I mean, incredible," Davies said of the phenom.

She added:

"When she turned pro to go up against those players for the very first time and win, obviously won in a playoff, but under all sorts of pressure - came through. You have to assume that it's going to go from strength to strength and I'm looking forward to seeing what she does."

Both Zhang and Davies will be in the field as the top players will head to Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey for the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

Davies is a two-time winner of the event (1994, 1996) while Zhang will be making her professional major debut.

Davies was speaking to GolfMagic as part of a Callaway event, promoting their Big Bertha Reva

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