'The growth of the game is not our job' – DP World Tour boss sparks debate after Rory McIlroy comments

DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings has sparked debate after making his position on growing the game of golf clear during the DP World India Championship.

Kinnings insisted that expanding participation in the sport is not the Tour's primary responsibility, explaining that its job is to stage professional tournaments for its members.

His comments came during an appearance on The Locker Room, presented by DP World, in Delhi, where he was joined by English cricket legend and keen golfer Kevin Pietersen and six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo.

"In reality, the growth of the game is not our job. Our job is to put on professional events for our members of the Tour," Kinnings said.

Kinnings went on to identify the R&A and Faldo's junior golf initiatives as organisations better placed to drive participation and develop young talent.

"The R&A grows the game. Sir Nick Faldo grows the game through his junior programme," Kinnings added.

However, the DP World Tour boss was keen to stress that professional golf still has an important part to play in inspiring the next generation.

"What we do is try and capture the imagination. So what are those young players going to be excited by? The truth is, it's the heroes. You've seen it in cricket," he explained.

Kinnings believes that staging high-quality tournaments featuring the world's leading players, alongside local sporting heroes, can encourage more young people to take up the game.

"If you can put on a wonderful tournament with great partners, you bring in the heroes, and we have a lot of them this week! And you've got local heroes as well. That's the important mix. That'll inspire the next generation," he continued.

He added that those responsible for developing grassroots golf could then build on the interest generated by professional tournaments, with aspiring players ultimately hoping to compete on the DP World Tour themselves.

The comments have divided opinion on social media, with the distinction between staging professional events and actively growing participation raising questions about where the responsibilities of golf's leading organisations begin and end.

Watch his comments in full here: 

Kinnings' comments follow McIlroy's India defence

Kinnings' remarks also arrive amid a wider debate about the importance of golf's leading players competing in emerging markets, following Rory McIlroy's defence of his decision to play in India for a second consecutive season.

The World No.2 faced criticism from former PGA Tour pro and NBC Sports golf analyst Kevin Kisner, who questioned his motivation for travelling to Delhi and suggested financial incentives were a significant factor.

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Kisner also questioned the suitability of Delhi Golf Club for a player of McIlroy's ability, given its tight layout and limited opportunities to unleash the driver.

McIlroy responded by arguing that accepting financial compensation and wanting to grow golf internationally are not mutually exclusive.

"Two things can be true at the same time," he said, explaining that players can be paid to compete while also having a genuine interest in introducing the sport to new audiences.

The 37-year-old Northern Irishman subsequently reinforced that message after completing his tournament, expressing his desire to return to India in future years.

"Overall it's been a wonderful week. India is really important market for golf going forward and it's only going to keep growing," McIlroy said.

"It's important that we come here, and I thought this week was another step in the right direction for golf in India and international golf as a whole."

McIlroy finished his second appearance at Delhi Golf Club with a 2-over 74 on Sunday, leaving him 4-under for the tournament and tied for 42nd, 17 shots behind winner Eugenio Chacarra, who vaulted to the top of the Race to Dubai standings in the process following his third title of the season.

Can golf's biggest names inspire the next generation?

While Kinnings has drawn a distinction between the DP World Tour's responsibilities and those of organisations focused on grassroots development, his comments suggest he sees professional tournaments as an important part of the wider picture.

The presence of household names can capture public attention, while strong local representation can help make the sport feel more accessible to aspiring players.

India, with its huge population and growing sporting audience, represents a significant opportunity for golf to reach new fans.

McIlroy has made that case explicitly, while Kinnings' comments underline his belief that star players and successful tournaments can provide the inspiration needed for others to develop the game at grassroots level.

Whether that division of responsibility satisfies golf fans is another question. But Kinnings' message is clear: the DP World Tour's role is to deliver professional events that showcase the sport, with the hope that those events will inspire the next generation to follow in the footsteps of their heroes.