Olympic Gold medal winning Xander Schauffele has delivered embattled Rory McIlroy a few reminders on how to deal with not breasting the victory tape first.
McIlroy seems to be under fire from all sides at present, first for a decision to be ‘wired’ during the second round of last week’s Masters, ahead of crashing out at Augusta National.
Now he’s facing more post Masters brickbats heading in McIlroy’s direction when he chose not to enter this week’s ‘elevate’ RBC Heritage at Hilton Head in South Carolina.
Xander Schauffele reminding Rory McIlroy ‘rules are rules’ in electing to skip this week’s RBC Heritage
Given McIlroy skipped Januarys’ opening event of the $20m series, it was a ‘must’ McIlroy tee-up on the alligator-infested Sea Pines course.
However, his absence has had many snapping for a chunk of the four-time major winner, including the PGA Tour who is set to fine McIlroy $US 3m under the ‘elevated status’ rules, meaning McIlroy will have the money deducted from his ‘Players Impact Program’ earnings.
The latest is Schauffele, winning gold two years ago in Japan and with the reigning Scottish Open champion, asked if he backed McIlroy’s move taking this week off.
“Rules are the rules,” Schauffele said as being reported in many news outlets. “So, I mean, for the most part, a lot of what he wanted is what’s happening. And the irony is that he’s not here.”
And Schauffele is not the only one having a ‘go’ at the absent Irishman with American Joel Dahmen critical of the PGA Tour’s unofficial mouthpiece on all matter LIV Golf.
“I feel like Rory was leading the charge on the changes that have been made and he helped make the rules,” said Dahmen also at this week’s RBC Heritage.
“He knew what the rules were. So, he knew what was coming. He also has so much money, he doesn’t care about $3 million.”
And there’s good friend and fellow Bears Club resident, Justin Thomas saying: “It doesn’t matter who you are, that’s a ton of money we’re playing for this week.
“All of us knew going into the year what the situation was and what we had to do to get extra X or Y and for him Y is a lot in this situation, finishing second (in the PIP rankings).
“So, it wasn’t a surprise to him or any of us. It just was kind of where he ended up in the rankings and not playing this week is I guess a consequence.”
Meantime in McIlroy’s absence Masters champ Jon Rahm brilliantly dusted off any Augusta victory hangover, posting a blistering RBC Heritage second round 64 thanks to four birdies in succession from his second hole.
Rahm jumped nearly 80 places after his lacklustre opening 72 to inside the top-15 at six-under as the afternoon half of the field were taking to the course.
Former PGA champion Jimmy Walker with a pair of 65s heads the field by three shots at 12-under and with last week’s defending Masters champ Scottie Scheffler also shooting a 65 to be tied in second place at nine-under with England’s Justin Rose (67).
Shane Lowry had picked-up two shots and moved to just inside the top-50 at three-under as he headed into his closing nine holes.
However Seamus Power looked headed for the weekend off, remaining at six-over par early in his second round, and this after a horror six-over 77 start to his South Carolina campaign.
