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RORY MCILROY HAS become one of the fittest and strongest golfers in the world.
In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN, he explained that it’s not only good for him but may also be good for the sport of golf as a whole.
Since 2010, McIlroy has dropped his body fat percentage from 24% to 10% and has added 20 pounds of muscle.
His new-found fitness regime — McIlroy works out five times a week, 90 minutes a day — has reminded many of Tiger Woods. It also helped McIlroy become the first golfer to appear on the cover of Men’s Health magazine.
The comparison to Woods has raised red flags for many since the American has seen his success on the course decline in recent years as he has battled a number of injuries. The injuries have led to rampant speculation that the extra muscle Woods added to his frame has hurt his game.
McIlroy, however, has defended his added size.
“I think golf has progressed, it has become more of an athletic sport,” the world numbr one said. “When you look at some of the moves guys make at the ball, you need to be strong in certain areas.
“You don’t need to be built like a linebacker but you need to have stability and strength in certain areas in your body.”
According to McIlroy, the benefits of more athletic-looking golfers transcend the course. When he was asked how much of a golfer’s look is “vanity” and the desire to look athletic, McIlroy says that it helps the sport’s image and credited Woods for changing the perception.
“If more golfers look athletic, it portrays a much better image for the game,” McIlroy said. “That encourages kids to maybe pick up the sport or pick up a club and maybe it encourages parents to get them into golfing as well.
“Because maybe 15-20 years ago the image of golf wasn’t athletic, it wasn’t the way it is now and Tiger has changed that. If you look at some of the younger guys, the look is much different. I think that is a great thing for golf.”
One of those who has been critical of McIlroy’s new physique is legendary golf coach Butch Harmon, who worried aloud that “you can almost hurt yourself in the gym if you get too bulky.”
However, Gary Player, a legendary fitness buff himself has defended McIlroy in the most succinct way possible, tweeting ‘what a load of nonsense’ in response to criticism of his muscle gain.
Admittedly I’m no golf pro but look at Rory’s physique, he’s in good shape obviously but hardly massive. If he’s put on 20 in muscle he’s probably lost 10 in fat so his overall weight isn’t much heavier. He has the build of an athletic footballer. Don’t see how that could hurt his game compared to being a Daly or even an Els type build. A stronger core for example, is going to help handle the constant torque his body has to generate.
Looking at photos of him from 5 years ago, he was quite out of shape then. He doesn’t look massive or shredded, but he looks better than most people, and at least he trains legs, which is always a good indicator of someone who’s trying to improve themselves.
Where have you seen his legs?
Most definitely
Gents, I think Liam was just theorising that’s what may have happened to Macker’s back.
People hurt themselves all the time lifting weights.
In any event, he didn’t state it as a fact, only an opinion.
Go easy.
To be fair I think people got annoyed because of him perpetuating the myth that lifting weights causes injuries. When they’re done incorrectly of course they’ll cause injuries but doing them correctly will only strengthen the body. Considering the amount of professionals McIlroy has surrounded himself with, I think it’s a relatively safe to assume he’s been shown how to do them properly.
That’s fair enough man, but accidents happen to all of us.
Fair enough Jimmy. Go easy.
there is more of him now to be annoying.