A former Team USA vice-captain has called out Rory McIlroy for a ‘dogs*** comment’ about playing at the DP World India Championship.

McIlroy finished his second round four shots off the lead in New Delhi, with fellow Holywood golfer Tom McKibbin fighting towards the top end of the leaderboard after a solid first two rounds.

The Grand Slam major winner spoke earlier this week about playing in India for the first time, and said he wanted to ‘spread the game’ to new countries, and it’s fair to say that comment didn’t land well with some in the States.

Rory McIlroy only played 14 events on the PGA Tour in 2026, short of the required 15 events to maintain a ‘dual tour’ status with the DP World Tour, but it’s expected by some that the PGA will make an exception for the Masters winner next year.

This is the catalyst for a lot of hostility from Americans, with former Team USA Ryder Cup vice-captain Kevin Kisner a prime example of the sentiment from a certain portion of golf fans towards McIlroy.

On the Fore Play Podcast, Kisner took aim at McIlroy’s ‘spread the game’ comment. ‘That is such a dogs*** 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 bucks and go play in India.

‘I know there are a pile of guys who got paid for that event. How else would you get that event in India with eight billion people in the middle of the city? 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 No. 1 weapon? So give me a break.’

Kisner went on to aim for other star names, like Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and more for their promotion of events such as the DP World India Championship when they miss certain events on the PGA Tour on more prestigious courses.

‘They always seem to say the right things while they’re over there,’ Kisner said. ‘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.

‘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, ‘All right, 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.’