MCILROY RESPONDS TO KISNER’S COMMENTS
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy responds to recent comments by Kevin Kisner regarding appearance money and competing in India. (Photo: Getty/DP World Tour)
World number two Rory McIlroy responded to criticism from fellow professional Kevin Kisner that he only competed in India last week because of appearance money, dismissing the comments by saying “two things can be true at the same time”.
McIlroy was asked the question after the final round of the DP World India Championship in new Delhi, but also questioned how Kisner would even know about appearance money he might have received in India.
“How would he know that? Two things can be true at the same time,” said McIlroy after taking time to consider his response.
“People can get paid to come and play at a tournament but at the same time do it from a place of, you know, a genuine interest of 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,” added McIlroy when speaking to the gathered media.
The questions and response from the six time Major winner come off the back of Kisner’s comments on the Foreplay Podcast last week, when he questioned the likes of McIlroy playing in places like India to grow the game.
“That is such a dog s*** comment. But I guess for the right price we could all say that,” said Kisner. “He doesn’t want to globally expand in India, he wants to get his $10 million and go play in India.”
“Rory’s not even hitting a driver this week. You think he wants to go play a tournament where he can’t use his number one weapon? So give me a break.”
McIlroy finished the week well down the field in a tie for 42nd on four under after a closing 74. Tom McKibbin was the leading Irish player in a tied for ninth on 12 under after two 69s over the weekend. Shane Lowry was two strokes further back on 10 under (T15) after his pair of 69s over the weekend.
Eugenio Chacarra secured his third victory of a remarkable 2026 season to rise to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World. Chacarra finished a marathon day, in which he completed 25 holes at Delhi Golf Club, two shots clear at the top of the leaderboard on 21 under par after posting a closing 70.
The Spaniard's bid to win the Race to Dubai crown looked to have suffered a blow when he recently fractured a toe but Chacarra did not let that affect him as he fought off strong opposition from a stellar chasing pack on Sunday to overtake long-time leader Patrick Reed in the standings. McIlroy is now third in the season-ending race.
After tasting victory at both the KLM Open and DS Automobiles 83° Open d’Italia in June, Chacarra now has three DP World Tour wins to his name in 2026 and four in all after last season's Hero Indian Open triumph at nearby DLF Golf and Country Club.
New Zealand's Daniel Hillier finished alone in second on 19 under as a brilliant charge on the back nine gave Chacarra a scare, cutting what had once been a six-shot lead down to two late on to pile on the pressure - but Chacarra was equal to the challenge.
“All the hard work, came close the last couple weeks, and yeah, I wanted to get (another) one to get up in the rankings, and I played really good,” said Chacarra. “Last round was tough. Really tiring waking up three days in a row 4:00 a.m. My body wasn't there. I didn't feel good.
“It's hard to go in a big lead. You don't really want to push but you want to, with guys making birdies. So it was something that I knew hadn't happened to me before and it was a new experience. But really proud of my short game and how I grinded and stayed patient.
“I know what I'm capable of. I was one of the best amateurs in the world and I wanted to be one of the best professional players in the world.”