Rory McIlroy walks the talk as he prepares to clock air miles to grow golf globally

Even before he became only the sixth man to complete golf’s career Grand Slam with a win for the ages at the Masters Tournament in April, Rory McIlroy already had a voice in the game, and a big one too.

He often spoke with candour, boldness and purpose on issues that mattered especially during his time as a policy board member on the PGA Tour, and along with Tiger Woods, he is among a rare few who is highly respected by his peers and the sport’s administrators.

The main thing is – McIlroy walks the talk.

When LIV Golf, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, emerged on to the scene a few years ago and lured some big stars with millions, the world No. 2 from Northern Ireland stayed loyal to the PGA Tour and backed it up with his reasons.

“It’s not for me,” McIlroy said candidly. “I’m too much of a traditionalist. I love winning golf tournaments and looking at the trophy and seeing that Sam Snead won this trophy or Ben Hogan or Gene Sarazen or Jack Nicklaus or Gary Player, Tiger Woods, Nick (Faldo),whoever it is. The people that came before me.”

While the United States is now his second home and primary playground, the 36-year-old is sticking true to his word about the need for him and other stars to ply their trade internationally and reach out to new fans. At the start of 2024, he spoke passionately about the importance for golfers to broaden their horizons and help maintain the momentum of golf’s growth and participation data around the world, which picked up pace following Covid-19.

“If everyone is talking about growing the game,” McIlroy said in 2024, “especially if these investors are going to come into our game and they want