The controversy over weightlifting for golf is alive and well. Former pro-golfer and Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee made a major critique of Rory McIlroy over his gym routine, saying:

“I say it with a lot of trepidation, because it’s a different era for sure and I don’t know the full extent of what he’s doing, but when I see the things he’s doing in the gym, I think of what happened to Tiger Woods,” he said, according to USA Today“And I think more than anything of what Tiger Woods did early in his career with his game was just an example of how good a human being can be, what he did towards the middle and end of his career is an example to be wary of. That’s just my opinion. And it does give me a little concern when I see the extensive weightlifting that Rory is doing in the gym.”

The No. 3 world-ranked golfer responded to Chamblee over Twitter in the most awesome way possible:

McIlroy’s weight training doesn’t go over too well with some in the golf world, but strength training is slowly but surely becoming more respected in sports and fitness circles as one of the greatest contributors to overall athletic performance. We’re taking Rory’s side on this one. Lifting for strength can have a tremendous carryover to his golf game. If Rory feels that squats can provide him with core strength for more rotational power and lower-body strength for leg drive during his swing, then more power to him. 

Heck, we even got former M&F Deputy Editor, Matt Tuthill, to review one of Mcllroy’s workout routines, and Matt did have a serious concern about one of the moves in that routine.

SEE ALSO: 5 Tips for a Deeper Squat 

If done safely and with proper supervision, strength training is also shown to be a tremendous way to reduce an athletes risk for injury, as it reinforces bone density, and strengthens muscle tendons and ligaments.

Ironically, McIlroy’s most career-threatening (if you want to call it that) injury occurred last July during a pick-up game of soccer, where he ruptured a ligament in his left ankle. The ankle injury decimated the Irishman’s 2015 season, causing him to miss out on defending his British Open title at St. Andrews in Scotland. But when an older golfer like Chamblee sees a young guy lifting weights, his first thoughts are, this could be the worst thing for his career. 

Nobody knows this condemnation of lifting better than Gary Player, a former pro recognized as one of the greatest golfers of all time. Player was a huge advocate of weight training for golf during a time when it seemed totally unorthodox for the sport. The South African, who is still in superb shape for an 80-year-old, chimed in on Twitter to support McIlroy:

Player posted another photo in support of McIlroy’s iron regimen, showing that he has some impressive guns (and legs) of his own back in his heyday:

Aside from the athletic carryover, weightlifting is just a great way to get in shape, plain and simple. Just 5 years ago, Rory was out of shape, and he has made a tremendous transformation over the years. Chamblee, to give him his due, did admit the following: “Thus far, there’s been no signs that it’s adversely affected his game.”

SEE ALSO: 5 Best Exercises to Become a Stronger Athlete