Rory McIlroy chooses sides in Jordan Spieth row after controversial Genesis Invitational disqualification

However, the American was left with egg on his face after it emerged he had mistakenly pencilled in a par instead of a bogey on the par-three fourth hole.

By the time Spieth had realised his error it was too late with tournament officials forced to disqualify him from the tournament.

Spieth admitted "full responsibility" after his mistake, but the situation led to a debate on social media on whether the rule needed to be changed.

Some have argued that no players are attempting to cheat by signing an incorrect scorecard as its nigh on impossible to do so with cameras following every shot.

But while McIlroy understands that view point, he feels no need for the rules to be changed

.“If we’re trying to keep this game unbifurcated and trying to [have] the pros play by the same rules as the amateurs, then we all need to keep our playing partners’ scorecards, and we’re responsible for that,” he said.

“I also see the other side of the coin where there are thousands of people watching us.

“Every shot’s tracked on Shot Tracker and the PGA Tour app. Is it needed at this point?

“I probably am more of a traditionalist than anything else.

“I fall into the camp of it’s worked for so long, I don’t think you need to change it.”

Xander Schauffele sees it slightly differently and feels there should be a softening of the scorecard-signing rules.

Spieth's compatriot explained what happened that led to Spieth's disqualification with tournament officials offering no leniency whatsoever.

Schauffele said: "[Marking your card] is part of the tradition of the game. I mean, Jordan, he knows, he knows what happened.

"He was really sick and he had a rough last hole and I can see how it all went down.

"I heard he had to go kind of ask some questions around the -- I heard he had to go to the restroom and came back like a minute later and the card was wrong.

LATEST SPORT NEWS:

• 'My major-winning brother always has the same response when I give him s***... Only one way to shut him up'
• Phil Taylor makes feelings clear on Luke Littler's future as darts star dazzles - 'I say this in all honesty'
• Rory McIlroy given death stare by Genesis Invitational rival after breaking golf etiquette rules

"Maybe there needs to be some sort of softening on the rules, but for the most part we all kind of know what goes on in there.

"It's really unfortunate it happened. I know Jordan, it's really unfortunate.

"This is a tournament people -- he's a big pull for us, he's a top-three pull for us on tour, so it's not good that he's not here."