Ronnie O’Sullivan lifts lid on Rory McIlroy conversation during Dubai link-up

Legends of snooker and golf met up in Dubai last week as Ronnie O’Sullivan and Rory McIlroy chatted about the pressures of elite sport.

McIlroy was playing at the DP World Tour Championship, where he ultimately was beaten in a play-off by Matt Fitzpatrick.

The Rocket now lives in Dubai and popped into the Earth Course to chat to some of the world’s best golfers.

Not only did the seven-time world champ want to pick their brains, but he was interested to see the ball-striking of golf’s elite, fascinated by the mechanics of it.

‘I’d always wanted to watch a professional golfer hit a ball, like a proper professional,’ O’Sullivan said. ‘Obviously living in Dubai now, it’s easier to get to events, just up the road. It’s just a lot easier and someone got me access there.’

On meeting the Northern Irishman for the first time, O’Sullivan said: ‘He was really lovely, honestly. He was such a nice guy.

‘You watch him on TV, you want to see him do well, but after meeting him, I found myself really rooting for him to do well. Because he’s a big star and it was nice of him to take the time out from his practise session just to have a little chat.

‘He’s a serious guy. He’s not just there to make the numbers up. There’s a lot of pressure on him and he wants to do well. You can recognise that in him.

‘All the players are great. I chatted to Tommy Fleetwood. He was lovely, Matt Fitzpatrick. We all kind of go through the same gambit of emotions with the game, you know, the ups and downs. So, it’s good to have a chat with him and more importantly, watching him hit the ball.’

While the 49-year-old wanted to see the golfers in action, it wasn’t technical stuff they spoke about, but more the mental side of top level sport.

‘We didn’t really talk about snooker or golf. It’s just more about the pressures of it and the pressure we put on ourselves and the relationship and how difficult it can be. Do you know what I mean?’ O’Sullivan said.

‘So, yeah, very interesting. We all kind of had the same sort of vibe towards it, I suppose.’

McIlroy won his first Masters title in dramatic fashion this year and there was drama in Dubai at the weekend as he brilliantly hold an Eagle putt to force a play-off with Fitzpatrick.

The Rocket reckons the 36-year-old needs the pressure and the test of pulling off brilliance when it really matters, given what he has achieved on the course.

‘He just has that ability to… I think he needs a challenge sometimes,’ said the snooker icon. ‘I think sometimes it’s like, OK, I’ve got to get an eagle here and that’s what turns him on, I suppose.

‘When you’ve won everything that he’s won in the game, it’s sometimes hard to keep getting up for it. But situations can inspire you, I suppose, you know.’

O’Sullivan is in action at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship this week, taking on either Shaun Murphy or Saudi wildcard Ziyadh Alqabbani in his opener on Wednesday at 7pm UK time.

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