LIV golfer Talor Gooch has been told to 'reel yourself in' after he made a brutal comment about Rory McIlroy.
Gooch claimed McIlroy's name would have an 'asterisk' next to it if he wins the Masters but football legend Ally McCoist has hit back.
The Masters is the only golf major that McIlroy hasn't won but he has famously came close to winning the Green Jacket on several occasions.
The Northern Irishman entered the final round at Augusta in 2012 four shots clear but he fell apart early on the back nine, eventually carding an eight-over par 80.
Talor Gooch has received criticism following comments on Rory McIlroy
Getty
McIlroy will go head to Georgia again in April as he attempts to finally complete a career Grand Slam.
But Gooch this week claimed that there would be an asterisk if he does win because he would be competing against a weakened field after the likes of Jon Rahm made the move to LIV.
Gooch told Australia Golf Digest: "If Rory Mcllroy goes and completes his Grand Slam without some of the best players in the world, there's just going to be an asterisk.
"It's just the reality. I think everybody wins whenever the majors figure out a way to get the best players in the world there."
But former Scotland and Rangers star McCoist has hit back at Gooch, who has never finished higher than tied-14th in a major.
McCoist has described his comments as 'nonsense' and says he hasn't even heard of the 32-year-old.
The Scot said on talkSPORT: "I've never heard so much nonsense in my life. Who is Talor Gooch anyway?
"Talor Gooch? Reel yourself in son. If Rory wins it, fantastic, good for him."
McIlroy has previously been heavily critical of players who have decided to leave the PGA Tour and join Saudi-Arabian-backed LIV.
Rahm is one of the most high-profile players to have made the move, doing so in December.
McIlroy has since admitted that he was too ‘judgmental’ of players who opted to take a big payday.
He said on the Stick to Football podcast in January: "I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the star.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Talor Gooch says there would be an asterisk if Rory McIlroy wins the Masters
Getty
"It was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realise that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Woods’s position.
"I can’t judge people for making that decision, so if I regret anything, it was probably being too judgmental at the start.
"I wouldn’t say I’ve lost the fight against LIV, but I’ve just accepted the fact that this is part of our sport now. We’re professional golfers and we play to make a living and make money, so I understand it.
"I don’t begrudge anyone for going and taking the money and doing something different, but don’t try to burn the place down on your way out."
Jon Rahm has been publicly and privately backed by Rory McIlroy
Getty
Rahm said this week that McIlroy has supported his decision but Tiger Woods less so.
The Spaniard said: "Well I mean, Rory has been supportive publicly of my decision and he was privately as well.
"Tiger? No, not really [had a response]. I texted him and the people that tried to reach out throughout the process when I signed and I just let him know, ‘Hey, this is a personal decision, I have nothing against anybody’."