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Kevin Kisner dispels myth that Rory McIlroy had unfair Masters advantage: 'Dumbest argument I've seen in my life'
TL;DR
Kevin Kisner criticized the notion that Rory McIlroy had an unfair advantage at the Masters, calling it 'the dumbest argument' he's ever encountered. McIlroy's preparation involved quick trips to Augusta National before the tournament.
In golf, you can't win 'em all, and you can't win 'em all over. Rory McIlroy certainly knows this as well as anyone. For every major victory like what we saw on Sunday at the Masters, there's a major heartbreak in his illustrious career. And despite being a media darling and fan favorite for the most part, he certainly has his detractors out there.
That came up in a weird way this past week following McIlroy's comments about his preparation for this year's Masters. The 36-year-old said that in the leadup to the tournament, he had some quick trips to Augusta National.
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"I did a couple of days where I dropped [daughter] Poppy to school, flew up here, played, landed back home and had dinner with Poppy and [wife] Erica," McIlroy said on Friday after taking a record six-shot lead through 36 holes.
But while you'd expect a comment like that to get environmentalists up and arms over McIlroy's (private) jetsetting, it led to more people complaining that McIlroy had an unfair advantage because he had such great access to the course leading up to the event. There's just one problem with that: Everyone who gets an invitation is able to schedule practice rounds well ahead of the tournament.
Kevin Kisner certainly knows that as an eight-time Masters participant. And on the latest episode of Barstool's Foreplay podcast, the four-time PGA Tour winner and NBC golf analyst called that take "the dumbest argument I've ever seen in my life." Here's Kisner's full thoughts on the matter:
Kisner acknowledges that as a defending champ, McIlroy might be able to come and go more as he pleases—and having a private jet is always an advantage—but that everyone has plenty of chances to play practice rounds there. And that he himself would play "probably 10 times a year leading up to the Masters." It helps that he lives in nearby Aiken, but that's a lot!
So there you have it. Spread the word to all the casual golf fans out there that Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters fair and square.
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Q&A
What did Kevin Kisner say about Rory McIlroy's Masters advantage?
Kevin Kisner described the argument that Rory McIlroy had an unfair advantage at the Masters as 'the dumbest argument I've seen in my life.'
How did Rory McIlroy prepare for the Masters tournament?
Rory McIlroy prepared for the Masters by making quick trips to Augusta National, balancing his time between golf and family commitments.
What was Rory McIlroy's performance in the Masters this year?
Rory McIlroy took a record six-shot lead through 36 holes at the Masters this year.
