Rory McIlroy kicked while down as NBC voice makes back-handed ‘Greek God’ dig

Brian Harman reacts to winning 151st Open Championship

Rory McIlroy’s hopes of winning another major have been publicly questioned after the Northern Irishman finished sixth at the Open Championship in Hoylake last weekend. The pre-tournament favourite had arrived at Royal Liverpool on the back of a victory at the Scottish Open, but could not repeat his heroics on the Wirral coastline, with American Brian Harman proving too hot to handle.

McIlroy had to settle for tied sixth after finishing six under through 72 holes, seven shots adrift of the eventual champion. It means that the 34-year-old’s drought in the Majors will now move into a tenth year.

The last of his four Major triumphs came on the same Wirral course in 2014 but he has been unable to add to that tally despite having 37 career tour wins to his name.

After falling short on Sunday, amid huge support from the galleries in dreary weather, NBC Sports analyst Brandel Chamblee questioned whether McIlory was past his physical prime and doubted whether the former world No. 1 would ever lift a Major title again.

As per GOLF.com Chamblee said: “It’s almost like he’s trying to win his first major all over again. Except now, he’s not in his physical prime, and he’s got the weight of the world on his back.

“You reach your physical prime at about 26, 27, 28. Now I know you think he’s ripped, and he is ripped, all right? But you reach your physical prime 26, 27.

“I realize he’s rippin’ it, and he looks like a Greek god. But I’m talkin’ about, at 34, he doesn’t have as much runway in front of him as he did when he won his last major championship.”

Chamblee’s comments prompted mixed views on social media. @JeffreyFrost1 tweeted: “Rory can play at a very high level for years to come. But his problems are all about his putter. Unfortunately putting skills definitely deteriorate with age,” and @jwattsgators1 wrote: “Is the clock ticking faster for Rory now?”

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But recalling how American Phil Mickelson won the USA PGA Championship in 2021 aged 50, @Grant_Croft tweeted: “Man I am not a huge Rory fan but we just watched Phil win a major above FIFTY – what are we even talking about here?”

@ABoyle013 added: “Rory is right there in every major. Brandel Chamblee is sending out freezing cold takes on the regular.”

McIlroy won the US Open in 2011 aged just 22, becoming the young ever winner of the tournament since amateur Bobby Jones in 1923. He is also one of only three players to win four Majors by the age of 25.

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