Rory McIlroy: Play With People Better Than You

The four-time Major winner was asked about advice for junior golfers

Rory McIlroy: Play With People Better Than You
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The four-time Major winner was asked about advice for junior golfers

Rory McIlroy: Play With People Better Than You

Earlier this week in China, defending WGC-HSBC Champion Xander Schauffele gave a clinic to junior golfers and told them to play with players better than them.

Rory McIlroy was then asked about Schauffele's advice and mirrored the American's words, with his own take on things about how he used to play with his caddie Harry Diamond who was better than him.

Rory, as always, gave an honest and candid response that made for fascinating listening.

Junior golfers wanting to improve - listen to McIlroy's advice...

"I think for me, I was always the youngest to play, whether it be at my home golf club or in competitions," McIlroy said in China about his development as a junior.

"So I was always playing with people that were better than me, and I think that -- even my caddie now, Harry, he's basically five years older than me, and he was a very good player, and I always played with him.

"So Harry was always better than me growing up as a kid, but that made me a better player because I saw what level I needed to get to.

"I don't think you necessarily, you know, you don't have to not like the person that you're playing with, but I think it's a wonderful piece of advice to find people that are better than you and to play with them, because it shows you what you need to do to get to that next level."

Watch - Rory McIlroy: Play With People Better Than You

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Related: McIlroy aiming to close gap on World No.1 Brooks Koepka

McIlroy has won three times in 2019 at the Players Championship, Canadian Open and Tour Championship.

He is currently 2nd in the world.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV