Darren and Rory in New Year Honours List

Darren Clarke - OBE for services to golf

Rory McIlroy - MBE for services to golf

Good to see golfers in the list, although I guess some may question it at Rory's young age.

Nice quote from McIlroy: "Many people on the Honours list have made huge personal sacrifices and contributed significantly to society during their lives. I feel very fortunate to be in their company."

Clarke and Donald would have been a much better choice

Not sure when the list is finalised, but wonder if Luke's achievement was a little too late in the day for inclusion this time around. For sure Luke should be recognised when the next lot of gongs are dished out, which I think is sometime during the summer.

I presume it is almost a given that any Brit who wins a Major is decorated?

It took me a few years to accept the concept of the honours list.

I would think who are you (The Queen) to decide who should be honoured or not. I now understand that is not exactly how it works and, for all intents and purposes, the Royal family's main involvement is simply to present the awards.

It still doesn't sit well 100% with me, but at least now I can mostly reconcile it in my mind.

Having said that, I'm not someone who adds too much weight to awards given because of people's subjectivity, anyway.

I'm actually quite anti awards because of who they go to. For me, they should be exclusively for the 'unsung heroes' that have made great personal sacrifices to help others. My uncle was awarded an OBE for services to industry. He got it for doing what his employer paid him to do! He lived in a million pound property in the New Forest, enjoyed an enviable lifestyle with first class foreign travel and luxury hotels.
As for sportspersons and TV/film personalities getting gongs, why? They are rewarded extremely handsomely as it is.

Completely agree with D4S. If someone is representing their country then maybe, but don't really feel that's true of golfers.
Coco getting on at 22 is a joke, he'll be Sir Rory at 25 at this rate.

I would feel very very embarrassed to be given an honour for sport, unless it was something like a Redgrave situation where you have done something unique. Winning a major really isn't that special in the grand scheme of things and in a sporting context. Perhaps if you win multiple ones, but not just one.
People do much more important things without recognition. Entertainers can be suitable embarrassed too.

drive4show wrote:I'm actually quite anti awards because of who they go to. For me, they should be exclusively for the 'unsung heroes' that have made great personal sacrifices to help others. My uncle was awarded an OBE for services to industry. He got it for doing what his employer paid him to do! He lived in a million pound property in the New Forest, enjoyed an enviable lifestyle with first class foreign travel and luxury hotels.
As for sportspersons and TV/film personalities getting gongs, why? They are rewarded extremely handsomely as it is.

Yup, I'm with you there, D4S.

Mercurio wrote:

drive4show wrote:I'm actually quite anti awards because of who they go to. For me, they should be exclusively for the 'unsung heroes' that have made great personal sacrifices to help others. My uncle was awarded an OBE for services to industry. He got it for doing what his employer paid him to do! He lived in a million pound property in the New Forest, enjoyed an enviable lifestyle with first class foreign travel and luxury hotels.
As for sportspersons and TV/film personalities getting gongs, why? They are rewarded extremely handsomely as it is.

Yup, I'm with you there, D4S.

Can somebody please note down the time and place, Merc and I have agreed on something

I've agreed with you on things before!

Mercurio wrote:I've agreed with you on things before!

Sorry mate, couldn't resist because we've had a few differences of opinions in the past but all in the name of entertainment eh?

I think that some one like Rory getting an MBE degrades the honour, and makes it a bit of a joke, I mean what has he done, that was that awesome to deserve such an award. When you look at all the badly injured servicemen and women, who fought for their country, and are now totally disabled for the rest of their lives, are not recognised by our country, but win a big trophy at golf and bang you suddenly become a national recognised super person, What A Complete Joke

Oldparwin, I think he received it for services to freckles, curly hair and twitter dating.

He's a Catholic Ulsterman - he was nailed on to get an honour in an attempt to persuade him to represent GB in the 2016 Olympics!

This article (and associated comments) is worth a read when you have a spare 6 hours:

http://premierkj.hubpages.com/hub/Rory-McIlroy-Identity-Crisis

diggers wrote:Oldparwin, I think he received it for services to freckles, curly hair and twitter dating.

It would have been a Knighthood if it had been for that Diggers...

I certainly don't think McIlroy should have won an honour whether it's automatic for a major winner or not, but it's not exactly his doing is it? After all, good old GMAC was given an MBE last year.

Recently, he's been given some stick for his media comments; I think he shows a bit of thought and understanding in his press statement:

McIlroy said: "I am delighted to be named in the Queen's New Year honours list. It is quite humbling to be included in such a list of worthy recipients. Many people on the honours list have made huge personal sacrifices and contributed significantly to society during their lives. I feel very fortunate to be in their company."

Still don't think any of them deserved an honour though.

Yadsendew wrote:I certainly don't think McIlroy should have won an honour whether it's automatic for a major winner or not, but it's not exactly his doing is it? After all, good old GMAC was given an MBE last year.

Recently, he's been given some stick for his media comments; I think he shows a bit of thought and understanding in his press statement:

McIlroy said: "I am delighted to be named in the Queen's New Year honours list. It is quite humbling to be included in such a list of worthy recipients. Many people on the honours list have made huge personal sacrifices and contributed significantly to society during their lives. I feel very fortunate to be in their company."

Still don't think any of them deserved an honour though.

Call me a cynic, and I sure the sentiment would be heartfelt, but I'd be pretty certain that statement was written by his PR company.

I would say that a lot of these awards, are more political, you work for over 25 years doing charity work, nothing, you work for over 40 years in the health service, saving countless lives, nothing, but if you work for over 10 years, for a political party, MBE or even OBE

Just a total joke!!!!

Diggers.......you cynic

Whatever he says, or someone else may say on his behalf, it appears he'll be knocked for it: even if it's not within his control.

Yes oldparwin, you're right.

True, certainly not his fault he got given one. Mind you he could always have refused it and said he didn't deserve one , that would have got my respect.

As I understand it, nominees (if that's the right word) are sponsored by their peer group. It then goes before a ctte (or ctts) who decide who gets and who doesn't.

What really, really pisses me off is that the people who really deserve an award get stuck with an MBE whilst all the celebrities, sports stars, politicians and forces brass get the big ones.

... which has the consequence of belittling the honour given to the ones who are more deserving of an honour.

gae, you are absolutely correct, my uncle who got an OBE was nominated by my other uncle

Given these precarious economic times, I think it's particularly inappropriate to honour people who make bags of money out of what they enjoy doing.

Why has this been allowed to continue?

That settles it. I'm going to consult with my MP in the New Year.

Now, wotshisname again?

Who would get an obe for services to golf forums? Simba, Max, Keizo?

s_r

aren't they all the same person? Keeps it simple, only one gong to hand out.
and you posted at 8:43 this morning, just as you got home from partying??

Dont be silly d4s. I wasn't out to begin with.

Oh sorry, I thought maybe you and Mac had been out on the town together

I recon putting Rory in the new years honors list is a cynical attempt by the Brits to get get Rory to play for GB&I rather than Ireland in the 2016 Olympics...

Come on lads give him the order of the shamrock

Sorry but who gives a s*** what team Rory plays for, it will just be another tin-pot tournament, that most pro.s will avoid like the plague, I mean no big purses, no world ranking points, plus they will need to miss big purse events with world ranking points.

Golf is not a team sport, it based on individual performances, so this Olympic thing will just be a big joke, will be interesting to see how many big name golfers are prepared to take part.

As far as I can see from what Ive read every top pro wants to play the Olympics, same as the tennis players do.
I fully expect the top 2 from each country to compete. I really don't think people get how high sportsmen in general hold the Olympics and what a unique event it is to compete in even if for golfers it will clearly never equal a major.

I think all the big names will take part... can you imaging the uproar if they didn't... it would be like somebody getting picked for the Ryder cup and then turning it down cause they fancied a week off.

Though I was taking the piss with my earlier comment, I would prefer if Rory was representing Ireland. We don't have too many Olympic gold medals so him getting one for us would be a huge thing in Ireland.

I too think all the big name players will want to play in the 2016 olympics.

As far as Olympics are concerned, isn't it GB+NI and Rep. Ireland are a separate team? Rory will surely represent GB+NI

Ok then why do all the big names, not play in the world cup of golf, surely being world champion, would be better than just an Olympic winner.


I think it will depend on what tournaments that the Olympics clash with, cannot not see the PGA tour, changing their schedules for the Olympics.

OPW - happy to agree to differ with you. I just think the Olympic name will carry more weight than the world cup of golf which to be honest is a bit of a Mickey Mouse event. You may well be proven correct but I think even the PGA of America will give some respect to the Olympic scheduling. Only time will tell

Because the world cup of golf is a nonentity of an event and the Olympics is possibly the greatest show on earth.
Sometimes wanting to take part in an event, stay in the village and mix with other athletes, do something completely different, is bigger than the prize itself. Thats what I hear the players saying when they talk about it, I honestly havent heard one single negative comment from a player re the Olympics.
But also who wouldnt want to say they won an Olympic medal ? Nice one to tell the grandkids.

I just think that golf is not an Olympic sport the same as football and tennis.

Lets keep the Olympics for track and field events, and World Championship events for everything else.

Too late Olp, that horse has bolted.

If we assume that most golfers are at the peak of their powers for what, 10 years? then that will give them only 2 or 3 attempts to win an Olympic gold so maybe they will put a bit of importance on it?

Who knows, just my thoughts.

It can't be that tricky though...even I could chip a golf ball through one of those Olympic Rings

diggers wrote:Because the world cup of golf is a nonentity of an event and the Olympics is possibly the greatest show on earth.
Sometimes wanting to take part in an event, stay in the village and mix with other athletes, do something completely different, is bigger than the prize itself. Thats what I hear the players saying when they talk about it, I honestly havent heard one single negative comment from a player re the Olympics.
But also who wouldnt want to say they won an Olympic medal ? Nice one to tell the grandkids.

The irony of golf in the Olympics is people like GFat and Shane Lowry sharing an Olympic Village with people take the physical element of their game seriously and are bona fide athletes, I think even Woods might be a bit lardy by then, he looks like the type who'll struggle with weight.

super_realist wrote:The irony of golf in the Olympics is people like GFat and Shane Lowry sharing an Olympic Village with people take the physical element of their game seriously and are bona fide athletes, I think even Woods might be a bit lardy by then, he looks like the type who'll struggle with weight.

They are the Olympic Games.. and golf is a game and by definition, a game requires skill and/or fitness. I think you're confusing them with the World Athletics Championships where most golfers (most peole in fact) would look like lardy ass out of place fatties.

Like the hammer throwers,shot putters,sumo wrestlers and wieght lifters?

s_r ... if he keeps eating yon trans-fatted lardy stuff in what is supposed to pass for breakfast in Perkins every morning, it's not only his weight he'll have to worry about.

Not confusing them at all Bob, just odd that golf is the only 'sport' where professionals don't deem it necessary to be in peak physical condition. Even in traditionally fat men sports like cricket and rugby it is rare to see a player in the professional game out of shape.
They will look very out of place at any Olympics, but in any event are too pampered and privileged to stay in the Olympic village I would have thought.

Sorry s_r, but that is rubbish. What about the people taking part in bowls,sumo wrestling,discus/hammer throwing, weightlifters, Yachting to name a few. These participants come in all shapes and sizes so the golfers would certainly not look out of place. Not sure whether or not the "pampered" tennis players stay in the village and we don't know at what level the golfing olympian would be aimed at. Football is part of the olympics, but none of the top players play for example.

Don't know why you mentioned those two as there is no bowls or Sumo in the Olympics.
Hammer throwers and discuss throwers and weight lifters are not exactly fat, just large guys who clearly have to train to be big. People like Lowry and GFat are just lardy and are fat because they eat too much and don't train, and there is no excuse for it, its sheer laziness and gluttony, and should be no place in the Olympics for it. What's next? Chess, tiddlywinks, croquet?

Sorry thought bowls was. There is Greco - Roman wrestling which probably has a heavyweight division. The point is they are not all finely tuned athletes.

As I understand it, the "pampered" tennis players do stay in the olympic village and cite that as one of the reasons they enjoy it so much! The chance to share the atmosphere with other athletes from other sports...

I'd expect the "pampered" golfers to view it the same way

Can't imagine Phil Mickelson or Man Sausage Woods staying there somehow.