The Toronto Maple Leafs created a lot of buzz, finishing at the top of their division in the regular season after 25 years. They also looked promising in the playoffs, beating Ottawa in Round 1 and taking an early lead over defending champs, the Florida Panthers. Yet, as they say, old habits die hard, as the Leafs collapsed under the weight of a Panthers comeback. However, golfing icon Rory McIlroy hasn’t lost faith in them yet as the Oilers try to break their own 36-year curse.

Yes, the 2025 Masters winner, Rory McIlroy, has a Leafs connection through MLSE CEO Keith Pelley. The Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO was the head of the PGA European Tour and still has a good relationship with McIlroy. So it’s a good thing that Rory McIlroy is a Leafs fan, and what more? He might be among the minority who still believe the Leafs will bounce back, and that became quite apparent after his message to the team.

Pelley and McIlroy crossed paths at the RBC Canadian Open Pro-Am, where the Maple Leafs CEO presented his golf buddy with a custom Leafs jersey. Sportswriter Joe Callaghan shared a snapshot of the career Grand Slam winner holding the jersey with McIlroy printed on the back. Yet, it’s what he said afterward that ruffled some feathers. “If I can win the Masters, then the Leafs can win the Stanley Cup,” said Rory McIlroy as per TSN’s Bob Weeks.

As per Yahoo Sports, the golfer didn’t end his speech there. “I hope they do it, I was pulling for them hard, especially now because Keith is involved,” added the 36-year-old. While it was an encouraging message from the golfing icon, who himself struggled to win the Masters for well over a decade, the fans couldn’t take it seriously. “They already lost Rory,” commented one fan.

The comment made it seem like the golfer wasn’t even up to date with the ongoing Stanley Cup season. The Cats absolutely demolished the team 6-1 in the deciding Game 7 to make it to the Conference Final, where they made short work of the Carolina Hurricanes. In fact, the buzz in the media is all about the Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers rematch. So it’s no wonder the fans asked questions.

Maple Leafs fans only expressed one feeling toward McIlroy’s message

The Leafs fans in the comments section seemed disillusioned with their team dropping the ball every time after a promising regular season of hockey. So when McIlroy expressed his belief in the Leafs, they responded with skepticism. “He knows they’re not in the cup finals, right?” commented one fan, asking if the sixth player to achieve a career grand slam even saw how the Leafs stars like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and others fumbled the puck in Game 7.

One Maple Leafs fan was so disappointed he thought Rory McIlroy didn’t even know what he was talking about. “Sure. I also have a chance at winning the Masters if we’re talking nonsense. #LeafsForever,” wrote the hockey fan. While Canadian fans have not seen any of their teams win a Stanley Cup for 32 years, at least the Edmonton Oilers had the chance last year, and have clawed back this year.

Meanwhile, The Maple Leafs have now waited for 58 seasons to see the Blue Brigade get their hands on the NHL‘s ultimate prize. That’s nearly double the time Oilers fans have waited to see their team lift the trophy. Yet, unlike the Leafs fans, the Oilers still have hope. In fact, they are downright excited because the Oilers beat the Cats in Game 1 with Draisaitl scoring in OT.

That’s a feeling the Toronto Maple Leafs fans haven’t felt for a long time, and at least some believe the pro golfer hasn’t experienced the same level of disappointment they have as fans. “Rory has not yet experienced enough Maple Leafs hockey,” wrote another skeptic to McIlroy’s encouraging words. Then again, Rory McIlroy knows the burden of chasing after a single trophy.

While winning the 2025 Masters was a huge achievement, it didn’t come easily to the golfer. The 36-year-old won the coveted trophy after an 11-year major championship drought and 17 starts at the Masters. Those emotions poured out when he fell to his knees after finally winning the trophy. That being said, another Leafs fan had a warning for the golf great.

“Tell Rory not to put the jersey on, if he does, he’ll never win another tournament #LeafsAreCursed,” warned one Maple Leafs fan, saying that 58-year-old curse could spell doom even for the veteran champion. But tell us what you thought of Rory McIlroy’s message to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the comments.