Rory McIlroy sparks backlash for comment at the Masters - 'He didn't need to do that'

Rory McIlroy sparks backlash for comment at the Masters - 'He didn't need to do that'Rory McIlroy has caused controversy in Ireland amid his bid to win consecutive titles at the Masters this weekendCommentsSportIsaac Seelochan Senior Sports Journalist12:01, 11 Apr 2026Updated 12:01, 11 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesRory McIlroy has caused controversy for his comments at the Masters(Image: AP)Golf star Rory McIlroy has sparked a backlash over an apparent disparaging remark about Irish cuisine while at the Masters. The Northern Irishman is chasing back-to-back Masters titles in Augusta this weekend as he seeks a sixth Grand Slam.‌The 36-year-old is in a commanding position heading into Saturday's play in Georgia. The defending champion holds a six-shot lead after ending his second round with four straight birdies, including a chip-in on the 17th.‌McIlroy has a healthy lead over Patrick Reed and Sam Burns in second as he chases more glory. But the golfing legend has caused controversy after speaking to the media at Tuesday's Masters Champions Dinner.‌READ MORE: The Masters 2026: Bryson DeChambeau and SIX ex-champions among 11 big names to miss cutREAD MORE: Rory McIlroy's rivals have all said the same thing about Masters star's behaviour on courseThe event is hosted by the winner of the previous year’s Masters tournament, and McIlroy made a quip about why he did not choose to have Irish food on the menu.JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook pageHe said: “People keep asking me, ‘Why didn’t you go more Irish?’ And I said, ‘Because I want to enjoy the dinner as well'.‌That comment has drawn criticism from leading figures within modern Irish cuisine, including TV chef and food stylist Erica Drum, via the Irish Independent.She said: “He didn’t need to do that. We are famous across the world for our dairy produce, our cheese and our cream. Imagine if he’d done a full Irish cheese board. We are the...