Brett Davis-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy reacts on the tenth hole during the final round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament. Apr 25, 2024; Avondale, Louisiana, USA; Kevin Kisner reacts to his shot from the 14th tee during the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament.
While Rory McIlroy says that he’s playing in this week’s DP World India Championship in New Delhi to grow the game of golf, fellow PGA Tour veteran Kevin Kisner is calling him a liar.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing a global schedule so I was excited to visit India for the first time last season to be part of the inaugural DP World India Championship,” McIlroy said recently about the tournament.
That comment came amid a larger statement by McIlroy talking about growing the game of golf in new markets. However, Kisner claims that McIlroy is putting up a charade, and that he has much different motivations.
Kevin Kisner Calls BS On Rory McIlroy’s Motivation For Playing In India
Kisner, now a regular host on the Barstool Sports “Fore Play’ podcast, went on a lengthy rant during the last episode, attacking McIlroy and his motivations for playing in the tournament.
“That is such a dog s— comment. But I guess for the right price, we could all say that comment,” Kisner said. “He doesn’t want to globally expand in India. He wants to get his $10 million and go play in India.”
Kisner then noted that McIlroy isn’t alone in taking a big payday to play in New Delhi. But he also noted that the course doesn’t suit the superstar Northern Irishman either.
“I know there’s a pile of guys that got paid for that event. How else would you get that event in India with eight billion people in the middle of the city?” he asked. “And 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.”
Kisner didn’t appear to take issue with McIlroy playing in the event. But he did take issue with him receiving praise for doing so.
“They always seem to say the right things while they’re over there. 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,” he noted. “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.”
Does Kisner have a point? Perhaps. But it’s hard to be too critical of McIlroy when you admit that you’d do the same thing if given the chance.