Kevin Kisner is not buying what Rory McIlroy is selling this week DP World Championship India.
In the latest episode of the Fore Play podcastst, Kisner suggested six-time major champion he puts himself in New Delhi for financial incentives instead of a desire to grow the game globally.
The criticism came after McIlroy’s appearance at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, where he discussed the expansion of golf in India.
During the forum, McIlroy explained that he hoped his participation in the DP World Tour event could help grow the game in India by increasing access to the sport and encouraging more people to take up golf. Kisner, however, did not buy that McIlroy’s motivation for playing in India was only for the good of the game.
🚨💰🏌️#MONEY BALL – Speaking on the @ForePlayPod, Kevin Kisner calls out Rory McIlroy for his previous comments about wanting to grow the game globally, insisting that Rory is in India this week for the appearance fee he is allegedly getting Kiz: “This is such a dog price, we can all comment for the right price! grow the game). He doesn’t want to expand globally in India, he wants to get his $10 million dollars and go play in India. How else do you get that event in India with eight billion people in the center of the city? And Rory isn’t even hitting a pilot this week. Do you think he wants to go play a tournament where he can’t use his number one weapon? So give me a break.” Riggs: “It’s all an appearance. It’s not that it’s not like, you know what? I can’t wait to go play really far. And while I’m here, uh, management team, could you book me as a public appearance where I can talk live and all that? Because I wish there was no fucking chance. So yes, obviously, to be good they are not. which, you know, of course I understand But it’s funny when it’s portrayed as this selfless move to grow the game in another part of the world. Kiz: “They always seem to say the right things while they’re here. As part of your appearance fee, here’s your script for altruism, and you need to mention these four lines in any interview you do during the week. That’s totally fine, I’m going to do it too, and all of us on this podcast. These guys show up, and no one says ‘okay, this is stupid,’ whenever they can go play the sickest course of the world, and none of them show up for me alone Do you agree with Kiz?
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) October 16, 2026
“That’s such a dog comment, but I think for the right price, we can all say that comment (regarding the growth of the game),” Kisner said. “He doesn’t want to expand globally in India; he wants to get his $10 million dollars and go play in India.
“I know there’s a bunch of guys who got paid for that event. How else do you get that event in India with eight billion people downtown?”
McIlroy is playing in the DP India World Championship for the second consecutive season and is receiving an appearance fee. The exact amount McIlroy was paid to play has not been publicly disclosed. McIlroy is not the only player on the course who is paid for his presence. Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood are among the other stars in New Delhi. They were also required to perform some promotional duties for the tournament, which included a ‘Diwali with the Stars’ dinner on Friday.
“They always seem to say the right things while they’re here,” Kisner said. “As part of your appearance fee, here’s your script for altruism, and you need to mention these four lines in any interview you do during the week. That’s totally fine; I would do it too, and all of us on this podcast would. I just find it funny when you can pop up and play an event where Rory McIlroy can’t hit his drivers, and everyone who can’t see their drivers, and everyone who isn’t the drivers, and everyone who can’t see it is stupid,” whenever they can go play the world’s sickest course, and none of them show up.
Kisner also questioned McIlroy’s decision to compete in a place where he will likely be placing his greatest asset.
“And Rory hasn’t even hit a driver this week. You think he wants to go play a tournament where he can’t use his number one weapon? So give me a break,” he continued.
Fore Play partner Riggs echoed Kisner’s skepticism, talking about the tendency to portray the appearances of high-profile players at international tournaments as efforts to grow the game.
“I get it. But it’s funny when it’s portrayed as this selfless move to grow the game in another part of the world,” Riggs said.
The comments are particularly interesting given that McIlroy took a few shots LIFE Golf during the same Bloomberg forum, criticize the league to “enrich tour teachers who were already making a lot of money” instead of investing in the ecosystem to grow the game.
The contrasting perspectives raise a broader question about the role of financial incentives in golf’s global expansion. While McIlroy highlights the potential for elite tournaments to introduce the sport to new audiences, Kisner suggests that the arrangements behind such appearances deserve closer scrutiny.
