Four-time PGA Tour winner Kevin Kisner accused Rory McIlroy of not exactly being genuine about growing the game of golf while teeing it up in India on the DP World Tour. Now, McIlroy has issued a rebuttal to Kisner’s harsh accusations.
In the lead-up to the DP World India Championship, McIlroy appeared at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi and, among the many topics he touched on, explained that he hoped his decision to play in the event would help promote and grow the game in India.
While his comments were as generic as they come, Kisner didn’t buy them and called the six-time major winner out directly. Kisner claimed the only reason McIlroy was playing in India was to collect a hefty appearance fee.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts following a missed put on the 16th green on day four of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on September 20, 2026 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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“That is such a dog sh-t comment, but I guess for the right price, we could all say that comment,” Kisner said on the Fore Play podcast. “He doesn’t want to globally expand in India; he wants to get his 10 million bucks and go play in India.”
“They always seem to say the right things while they’re over there,” Kisner later continued. “As part of your appearance fee, here’s your script for altruism, and you need to mention these four lines in whatever interview you do throughout the week. Which is totally fine, I’d do it too, and all of us on this podcast would. I just find it hilarious when you can pop up and play an event where Rory McIlroy can’t hit his driver, and all those guys show up, and nobody’s like, ‘alright, this is stupid’, whenever they can go play the sickest course in the world, and none of them show up. It’s just very odd to me.”
Kevin Kisner of the United States looks on while playing the sixth hole during the second round of the Biltmore Championship Asheville 2026 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove on September 18, 2026 in Arden, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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McIlroy, who finished T-42 in the India event, was asked about Kisner’s remarks after Sunday’s final round, and while he explained that he had not seen them beforehand, he reacted candidly.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot during the Pro-Am prior to the DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club on October 14, 2026 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty images) (Luke Walker/Getty images)
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“I didn’t see that. I don’t know why me being in India would make Kis need to comment on that,” McIlroy told The Mirror.
“Two things can be true at the same time. People can get paid to come and play at a tournament, but at the same time, do it from a place of a genuine interest in trying to bring the sport to another country, a developing country, a country where the middle class in India is larger than the whole population of the United States. It’s a huge market for golf.”
McIlroy explaining that two things can be true at once certainly applies here, and his admission that he was paid an appearance fee to play in the event is completely transparent. The same can be said for Kisner, who admitted that he’d show up and play in a tournament too if it came with a guaranteed payday.