When golf gets a little messy, look for Rory McIlroy, he’s probably right in the middle of it. From speaking up on the rollback policy to now expressing his thoughts on the unification of golf, the golfer is always on the move. The four-time Major champion has faced criticism from some PGA Tour pros after softening his stance on LIV Golf. McIlroy, who had previously been a vocal critic of the rival league, recently expressed support for allowing golfers who defected from the PGA Tour to return without punishment.However, not everyone is pleased with McIlroy’s change of heart and that list of people includes Golf Channel analyst Johnson Wagner, who publicly rebuked the golfer, saying “Rory’s lost his moral compass, in my opinion… He’s all over the map, and it’s hard to take him seriously.”Despite the criticism, PGA Tour player Roberto Castro has come to McIlroy’s defense, praising his unique ability to connect with others and share his emotions. In the latest episode of Chad Mumm’s podcast on Spotify, Castro noted that McIlroy is “constantly investing emotionally in whatever he’s doing,” which is a rare quality in professional sports. “I honestly give credit to Rory as the only player who really like will let you in and can and has the sort of self-awareness and just the talent with his words to really make you feel understand how he’s feeling and you know that blows my mind,” Castro said.This willingness to invest emotionally is impressive, especially considering that there aren’t many who do so. “His willingness to be vulnerable and to invest, a lot of people don’t invest emotionally because it’s painful when you lose and he’s constantly investing emotionally in whatever he’s doing. I think it’s just awesome”, he said. Castro’s praise for McIlroy highlights the golfer’s unique combination of talent, self-awareness, and courage.February 2, 2025, Pebble Beach, Ca, USA: Rory McIlroy is seen on the tee at hole 17 just before winning the Pro-Am on the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2025 at Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 02, 2025 in Pebble Beach, California. Photo: Casey Flanigan/imageSPACE Pebble Beach USA – ZUMAi237 20250202_zsa_i237_119 Copyright: xFlanigan/ImagespacexAs Castro said, “It’s just awesome” to see someone like McIlroy, who has been a celebrity since a young age, remain true to himself. McIlroy’s ability to be a role model both on and off the course is impressive and Castro emphasized that “He’s just an incredible ambassador or figure… we’re lucky to have someone like him, they don’t come around very often.” Just because the golfer never really talks about his feelings does not mean he can’t, as recently evidenced by Rory McIlroy‘s candid conversation at Torrey Pines.Rory McIlroy, unfiltered on the Tour investmentYou can sense the weight lifting off Rory McIlroy‘s shoulders. For years, he’s been the voice of golf, speaking candidly about the sport’s evolution and his own game. But with that role came a ton of responsibility – he wasn’t just speaking for himself but for the entire tour. It’s exhausting being the moral compass all the time! But now, it seems McIlroy has given himself permission to just be himself. His recent statements feel refreshingly honest and unapologetic – a far cry from the carefully crafted responses of the past.It’s clear McIlroy’s done with shouldering the burden of being golf’s spokesperson. When asked about the tour’s $1.5 billion equity investment after his play at the Genesis Invitational Pro-Am, he shrugged it off with a simple “I’m not part of it anymore.” That’s a pretty mic-drop statement – and a huge departure from his usual diplomatic self. As McIlroy navigates this new chapter, his words are authentic, raw, and unapologetically him. And honestly, it’s kind of liberating to see him just be himself. What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below!The post Rising Protests Against Rory McIlroy Within PGA Tour Pushes Insider to Take a Stand for ‘Vulnerable’ Golfer appeared first on EssentiallySports.