Rory McIlroy brutally snubbed Tiger Woods after being ‘hounded’ by rival

Rory McIlroy is in action alongside Shane Lowry at this week’s Zurich Classic, having had numerous invitations from a PGA Tour star to play in the event previously

Rory McIlroy previously rejected the chance to play the Zurich Classic
Rory McIlroy previously rejected the chance to play the Zurich

Rory McIlroy has revealed he turned down offers from Bubba Watson on numerous occasions to compete alongside him in the Zurich Classic, before making his debut in the event this week.

McIlroy is in action at the pairs event in New Orleans alongside his Olympic teammate Shane Lowry, having never previously added the tournament to his schedule. After arriving on site at TPC Louisiana this week, McIlroy was quizzed on whether he had been close to playing in the Zurich before, revealing now LIV Golf star Watson had previously tried to twist his arm into competing.

“Yeah, a few people have asked me over the years,” the four-time major champion said this week. “Bubba Watson hounded me for years to come play this with him and I politely declined every time…

“I guess it never lined up with my schedule and just wasn’t — this is my fourth week in a row, and it’s not as if I haven’t played four weeks in a row before, but for a fourth tournament in a row, something like this that is a little more relaxed, not as much pressure, I thought it would be a good thing to do.”

This time around though the Northern Irishman has taken to the New Orleans course, and is in familiar company with good friend Lowry. The pair were part of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team in Rome last Autumn, and the duo revealed it was an evening celebrating their victory over their American rivals that led to their entry this week.

“I basically didn’t want to ask Rory because I didn’t think that he would want to come and play,” Lowry revealed. “Then he was the one that said it to me, and I was like, absolutely. Yeah, we talked about it, I remember Rory talked about — the Wednesday after Ryder Cup we had a nice few drinks together.