Rory McIlroy plays more of a global schedule than the vast majority of the best players in the world.

In fact, it’s fair to argue that McIlroy is the game’s biggest global ambassador.

From India to Australia, from South Africa to China, the 37-year-old Northern Irishman has helped bring the professional game to the masses all over the globe.

Who will win the four majors in 2027?

We are already dreaming about Thursday at Augusta National!

However, could McIlroy do even more?

Kevin Kisner certainly thinks so. The American recently suggested that the only reason the six-time major winner played in India last week was because he received a huge appearance fee.

Kisner questioned McIlroy’s motives, arguing that he is actually more interested in money rather than helping to grow the game.

Rory McIlroy misses the point as he responds to Kevin Kisner’s criticism

McIlroy is believed to have received around $10 million to play in the DP World India Championship.

And Kisner criticized McIlroy for suggesting that he is playing in India to help grow the game.

“I guess for the right price, we could all say that comment [about growing the game],” Kisner said.

“He doesn’t want to globally expand in India; he wants to get his $10 million bucks and go play in India.“

After playing his final round in India on Sunday, the six-time major champion responded to Kisner’s criticism.

“I didn’t see that,“ McIlroy said.

“I don’t know why me being in India would be something Kis needs to comment on.

“Two things can be true at the same time, he said. “People can get paid to come play in a tournament but at the same time do it from a place of a genuine interest of trying to bring the sport to another country, a developing country, a country where the middle class in India is larger than the whole population of the United States. It’s a huge market for golf.“

The thing is, McIlroy is missing the point here.

If the Northern Irishman really is intent on helping grow the game, why does he need an appearance fee at all?

Rory McIlroy has an opportunity to really help grow the game

McIlroy was correct when he said that two things can be true at the same time. He may well want to grow the game, but would he really be so keen to do so if he wasn’t paid such a huge fee to play in India?

The six-time major champion should put his money where his mouth is.

Of course, if Rory McIlroy feels as strongly about growing the game as he claims to, perhaps he should donate his appearance fees from every event he plays globally to the grass roots level of the game in whichever country he is competing in.

After all, McIlroy has earned enough money to secure the future of many generations of his family that will follow him.

Ploughing his appearance fees into local golf clubs, driving ranges, practice facilities and youth coaching setups would actually help speed up the growth of the game exponentially.

It will be interesting to see whether McIlroy does that in the future.