Paul McGinley explains ‘ham-fisted’ Rory McIlroy comments

It was perhaps the wrong choice of word at the time...

But instead of unanimous praise for completing the Grand Slam after so many major near misses, the Dubliner quipped that McIlroy was "not everybody's cup of tea."

McGinley can be given the benefit of the doubt that he was maybe trying to tee up a compliment with this comments, as the former Ryder Cup player is generally very knowledgable and careful with his words.

But many fans were not too pleased with his negativity after such a heartwarming victory.

While some do not take to McIlroy, he is clearly the most popular player on tour, drawing the biggest crowds and loudest chants.

However, McGinley did tweet a more well-worded congratulatory message later on.

He wrote: "Aside from his brilliance as a golfer this was a human display of resilience and old fashioned doggedness as much as anything else from Rory - the game needed this and boy has Rory so earned and deserved this. Congrats also to Justin on his brilliance today".

McGinley then later explained his 'ham-fisted' comments.

He tweeted: "Rory has been the most criticised golfer in the world over the past few years. Winning was a human story of redemption against that backdrop. I tried to eloquate that but it came out in a ham fisted way yesterday. Nobody more happy than me to see him win and complete the Slam".