Dave Portnoy has shared why he won’t offer his most heartfelt congratulations to Rory McIlroy on his Masters victory.
McIlroy threatened to let the Green Jacket slip through his fingers once again, putting a five-shot lead with eight holes to play at risk in a dramatic final round at Augusta National.
However, the Northern Irishman desperately clung on with a birdie putt to best Justin Rose in a sudden death playoff and become only the sixth player in history to seal the career Grand Slam.
Yet, the 35-year-old’s thrilling – and emotional – end to a barren 11-year major run wasn’t impressive enough for Portnoy.
‘You’re not going to get me to full tip my cap,’ the sports media personality said on the Barstool Rundown. ‘Nobody made a move on that leaderboard. This guy kept that cupboard open and let anybody have a chance over and over and over.’
Rose did in fact make a charge up the leaderboard with an incredible 10 birdies, including one at the last to ultimately tie McIlroy.
Rory McIlroy finally sealed the career Grand Slam with his first Masters victory Sunday
But Dave Portnoy revealed why he won’t fully ‘tip my cap’ to the Northern Irishman
With the Englishman already in the clubhouse at 11 under, McIlroy missed a par putt on the final hole of regulation to send the first major of the year to sudden death.
It was just one of many chances to wrap up his quest for an elusive first Masters title that McIlroy failed to seize.
McIlroy’s fourth birdie of the day on the 10th had given him a five-shot lead, but he inexplicably pitched into Rae’s Creek on the 13th to run up a second double bogey of the day and also dropped a shot on the 14th.
After a birdie on the 17th had seen him regain the lead, he blew it once again with the bogey at 18.
‘Missing that putt was one of the great choke shots,’ Portnoy added. ‘Yeah, he won it so it erases [the miss] but it went from like the greatest choke ever. It’s not like he played unbelievable. He was all over the place.
‘It was maybe the most dramatic Masters but he didn’t win that because of his pure greatness. He was choking, making shots all over and no one else made a move.’
The Barstool Sports founder’s criticism didn’t end with McIlroy’s final round at Augusta. He also took aim at the five-time major winner’s behavior on and off the course.
Portnoy cited McIlroy’s divorce U-turn drama and his furious altercation with a fan at The Players Championship earlier this year.
The Barstool Sports chief repeatedly insisted that he is ‘an anti-Rory guy’
McIlroy slips into his green jacket after winning a playoff against Justin Rose at Augusta
McIlroy poses with daughter Poppy and wife Erica Stoll after being handed his trophy
McIlroy stole a fan’s phone in response to their heckling during a practice round ahead of the tournament in March, which Portnoy claimed showed his true colors as a ‘jerk.’
‘I was rooting heavily against him, I do not like Rory. I am an anti-Rory guy,’ he admitted. ‘Golf people in general have a very soft loser mentality.
‘[…] I think Rory is a very unlikable dude if you’re not caught up in the world of golf
‘I don’t like Rory. I wish he didn’t win. I don’t know how everybody loves Rory. His crying was a little bit much for me. I thought when he was walking to like the playoff hole after he choked and he like kissed his wife and his baby that was like a PR move.’
