Rory McIlroy: European Tour Course Set-Ups Too Easy

McIlroy says he is sick of shooting low scores and not finishing near the top of the leaderboard due to easy course set-ups

Rory McIlroy: European Tour Course Set-Ups Too Easy
(Image credit: Getty Images)

McIlroy says he is sick of shooting low scores and not finishing near the top of the leaderboard due to easy course set-ups

Rory McIlroy: European Tour Course Set-Ups Too Easy

Rory McIlroy says he is sick of European Tour courses not being set-up hard enough after finishing T26th with his 15 under par score at the Dunhill Links.

The four-time Major winner revealed that he didn't have his best at the Dunhill but still managed to shoot 15 under.

"I'm sort of honestly sick of coming back over to The European Tour and shooting 15-under par and finishing 30th," he told media after his round.

"I don't think the courses are set up hard enough. There's no penalties for bad shots. It's tough when you come back when it's like that. I don't feel like good golf is regarded as well as it could be.

"It happened at The Scottish Open, as well, Renaissance, I finished 13-, 14-under and finished 30th again. It's not a good test. I think if The European Tour want to put forth a really good product, the golf courses and setups need to be tougher."

Rory then took to social media to clarify that his comments were not just about Europe but worldwide too.

He also said he wants to see tougher set-ups in Europe to produce better players.

"I understand voicing my concerns about golf course set ups in Europe to the media, at a pro am event on benign links courses wasn't the right place to do it, or, the right people to talk to about it," McIlroy wrote in a statement.

"I was venting yesterday but I can assure you it came from the right place.

"Strategy, course management and shot making are important aspects of tournament golf that are being slowly taken out of the game at the top level, not just in Europe but worldwide.

"I would personally like to see tougher set ups in Europe because it will produce better, more complete young players in the future and that can only be a good thing for the game and our Ryder Cup chances going forward."

Edoardo Molinari appears to agree with McIlroy's comments -

See more

Whilst McIlroy was initially talking about the European Tour, it is actually the PGA Tour that produces the lowest scores out of the two.

In 2019, the PGA Tour's average winning score is 266.5 as oppose to the European Tour's which is 270.0 (stat: Nosferatu @VC606 on Twitter).

Let us know your thoughts on McIlroy's comments on our social media channels

Expand Tony Jacklin Slates Modern Day Golf – “In A Sorry State”

Tony Jacklin Slates Modern Day

Tony Jacklin Slates Modern Day Golf – “In A Sorry State”

The two-time Major champion and four-time Ryder Cup…

Expand Gary Player ‘Sad Old Course Brought To Her Knees By Equipment’

Gary Player 'Sad Old Course Brought To Her Knees

Gary Player ‘Sad Old Course Brought To Her Knees By Equipment’

Player tweeted his concerns after low scoring on…

Expand Rory McIlroy Questions Golf’s Schedule

Rory McIlroy Questions Golf's Schedule

Rory McIlroy Questions Golf’s Schedule

The four-time Major winner says that golf lacks…

Expand Rory McIlroy What’s In The Bag?

Tony Jacklin Slates Modern Day

Rory McIlroy What’s In The Bag?

See the clubs Rory McIlroy currently has in…

For all the latest golf news, check the Golf Monthly website and follow our social media channels

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV