Golf star Rory McIlroy has publicly dismissed the significance of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) award, referring to it as a 'popularity contest' and expressing his disinterest by stating he had forgotten he was even nominated. His comments, which surfaced across various sports media outlets, indicate a broader criticism of what he perceives as the diminished value of legacy media. In a related development, Ian Poulter has voiced his own frustrations in a LIV-inspired Instagram rant, calling out 'two-faced' enemies. Additionally, McIlroy has been involved in a verbal exchange with fellow golfer Sergio Garcia, critiquing Garcia's stance on the proposed LIV Golf format and implying that Garcia feels entitled to certain recognitions.
Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia reignite feud with latest war of words https://t.co/evlhJheCn7
Rory McIlroy launches brutal attack on BBC Sports Personality of the Year as golf star slams ‘popularity contest’ https://t.co/h8medBDdOt https://t.co/h8medBDdOt
🏌️Rory McIlroy attacks BBC, calling Spoty 'a popularity contest' https://t.co/n84RNwV8xA
Rory McIlroy takes swipe at Sergio Garcia who 'feels he deserves a lot of things' https://t.co/evlhJheCn7
Rory McIlroy calls BBC's Sports Personality of the Year a 'popularity contest' in cutting dig https://t.co/zdRLwbr90N
✍️@TheFatTony: I’m not being funny but… do you remember when Oxford Street was one of the greatest in the world? Read more: https://t.co/v2jIPv1gOs https://t.co/rU6LviQEmI
🗣️ "I forgot I was nominated." Rory McIlroy has left nobody in any doubt about his scant regard for the BBC Spoty gong. Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/eqAQ5WoowY
Rory McIlroy rolls his eyes at Sergio Garcia's criticism of proposed LIV Golf format https://t.co/evlhJhfacF
Rory McIlroy destroys BBC after snubbing Sports Personality of the Year ceremony - 'Forgot I was nominated' https://t.co/w7sPWPcVA4
Rory McIlroy takes swipe at BBC's Sports Personality of the Year after 'forgetting he was nominated' https://t.co/zdRLwbr90N
🚨🏆🤷♂️ #SPOTY MEMORY — Rory McIlory on the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award: “I forgot I was nominated... So that's how much I think about it... It's a popularity contest, and I think it's just not really -- it's not what it once was… I think legacy media is not what… https://t.co/xQKe5i1uPH
Rory McIlroy forgot he was nominated for Sports Personality of the Year https://t.co/fsTxx2qQSz
Ian Poulter calls out ‘two-faced’ enemies in LIV-inspired Instagram rant https://t.co/zjNJ9TuirF https://t.co/IfNRB9oByy