Rory McIlroy’s pursuit of a long-awaited major victory at the Masters took a dramatic turn on Thursday, prompting scrutiny and debate within the golfing world. The Northern Irishman, aiming for his first major championship since 2014 and a coveted Green Jacket, experienced a significant setback during the opening round.
McIlroy began strongly, reaching four-under par through 15 holes. However, subsequent struggles—including two bogeys—left him tied in 27th position ahead of Friday’s play. Adding fuel to the discussion was Sky Sports analyst Paul McGinley’s assessment that McIlroy appeared distracted by his playing partner, Akshay Bhatia.
“I think he got distracted,” McGinley stated during the broadcast.
McGinley explained that delays on the 15th hole stemmed from a series of events: Bhatia’s errant shot finding water and requiring extensive practice swings, followed by the need to wait for Bhatia to mark his ball after it landed in McIlroy’s line of sight. The situation was further complicated by waiting for players exiting the 16th tee box. McIlroy reportedly waited approximately five minutes before taking his own shot.
“He is such a quick player – he wants to get on with it. He got distracted,” McGinley continued, adding that he didn’t hold Bhatia or the other players responsible.
The Masters tournament demands precision and minimal margin for error, and McIlroy’s double bogey on the 17th highlighted the pressure of the event. As one Twitter user observed: “Doubles bogey. Masters champs just can’t do this.”
“And that is what great champions don’t do,” McGinley added.
McGinley’s comments, however, have been met with considerable backlash. Many viewers felt it was unfair to place blame on Bhatia for McIlroy’s struggles, leading to a wave of criticism directed at both the analyst and Sky Sports.
- One viewer called the segment “pathetic” for blaming Bhatia.
- Another accused Sky Sports of unfairly targeting Bhatia.
- A third labeled McGinley an “idiot” for suggesting Bhatia’s actions were responsible for McIlroy’s collapse.
- One user described the coverage as a “tedious one-sided piece of broadcasting.”
Despite the challenging start, McIlroy will attempt to rebound in Friday’s round. The 35-year-old has demonstrated consistency throughout 2025 but needs to significantly improve his performance to secure a spot for the weekend. Following his Thursday struggles, McIlroy declined media interviews. Prior to the tournament, he emphasized his focus on remaining unburdened by external pressure and treating the Masters like any other event.
“It’s just narratives. It’s noise,” McIlroy stated. “It’s just trying to block out that noise as much as possible. I need to treat this tournament like all the other tournaments that I play throughout the year.”
