Rory McIlroy in subtle LIV Golf dig after missing out on Olympic medal

Rory McIlroy has hailed the Olympics and Ryder Cup as the "purest form of competition in our sport" amidst the chaos stirred by LIV Golf's emergence, which he says has left the sport a "---- show".

The golf world has been divided since the Saudi-backed league's inception in 2022, and McIlroy , the world No.3, has been outspoken about his thoughts on the situation throughout. Despite missing out on an Olympic medal and skipping the 2016 Rio Games when golf made its Olympic return, the Northern Irishman has had a change of heart regarding the event.

Previously labeling the Ryder Cup as merely "an exhibition event" prior to his first appearance in 2009, the four-time major champion now embraces the spirit of representing one's country or continent without financial incentives, considering the Olympics up there with the Ryder Cup in terms of prestige and atmosphere.

Following his impressive performance at Le Golf National, where he tied for fifth place amid enthusiastic crowds but missed out on a medal, McIlroy shared his enthusiasm: "Amazing experience. Probably one of the best individual competitions I've been a part of."

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"We were talking about it out there and Nico (Hojgaard) reckons it's the best tournament he's ever been involved in, and he's played a Ryder Cup.. I still think that the Ryder Cup is the best tournament that we have in our game, pure competition, and I think this has the potential to be right up there with it."

In a subtle dig towards LIV Golf and its impact on the golfing landscape, he declared: "I think with how much of a ---- show the game of golf is right now and you think about the two tournaments that might be the purest form of competition in our sport, we don't play for money in it.

"Even standing on the 16th tee and watching 18 and seeing Victor Perez come up 18 and how he was serenaded by the French crowds. We don't get that any other place that we play, maybe apart from The Ryder Cup.

"So yeah, I just thought it was an incredible atmosphere and environment to play in, and I think everyone in the field had a blast."

Speaking of his time at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year, Rory McIlroy shared that the experience altered his perspective: "I think I was in a certain mindset going into Tokyo and I left with a different mindset, just like I've done a lot of times in my career because I'm ignorant and naive and don't give things much thought. But once you experience things, you start to see what the hype is about."

Reflecting on the tournament's crucial moments, McIlroy, who began the final round trailing by four shots, recounted his impressive streak and the unfortunate misstep that followed: "I was one behind and I was like: 'Holy ----, what just happened? Even that wedge shot on 15, I hit the shot I wanted to hit but I didn't get the ball in the air enough for the wind to carry it the extra three or four yards I needed to.

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"Tried to stay aggressive and land a wedge between the front edge and the hole. Missed my spot by nearly three or four yards and that ended up costing me a medal. But at that moment, I had the golden medal in mind.

"I had a wedge in my hand on 15 and you birdie that and get to 18-under and tied for the lead, yeah, absolutely. Any medal is possible at that point."

However, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler emerged victorious after his closing 62, while Britain's Tommy Fleetwood settled for silver with his 66, and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama secured the bronze after his 65. McIlroy, who finished four shots behind Scheffler on 15-under par after weekend 66s, will soon mark a decade without winning a Major.

"I feel like I've been golf's Nearly Man for the last three years," confessed the US Open runner-up. "I obviously want that tide to turn and go from the Nearly Man to back to winning golf tournaments.

"It's all well and good saying I'm close and close and close. Once I actually step through the threshold and turn these near misses and close calls into wins, that's what I need to do."