NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
The roar of the crowd at the Masters is a familiar sound, but during Rory McIlroy’s last-hole victory, he was tracking a different kind of data: his heart rate.
As the golfer scored his victory, his wearable device revealed a heart rate of 117 beats per minute on his first putt, which rose to 150 during the post-win celebration, according to data released from his fitness wear on Monday.
New York-based physician Dr. Mike Varshavski joined host Lawrence Jones on Fox & Friends on Tuesday to discuss whether these wearable devices are improving public health or simply fueling a new era of medical stress.
ARTHUR C. BROOKS DISCUSSES HOW TO FIND MEANING AND JOY IN THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY
For McIlroy, the device serves as a performance tracker and a tool to manage the golfer’s long-term heart condition.
He shared his diagnosis of myocarditis, which he received at age 20, in a podcast interview with the Whoop brand.
Rory McIlroy celebrates after winning the Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 12, 2026. (Photos by Bill Streicher/Imagn)
“I can wear WHOOP, and I can monitor my HRV, my heart rate … just to be able to keep up with that, it just gives me a lot of peace of mind,” he said.
However, Varshavski shared a different perspective on consumer wear. While acknowledging its importance to “the biggest sporting event, the PGA Tour [or] professional sports,” the doctor expressed concern for the average user.
RISK OF DEMENTIA MAY BE TIED TO YOUR MIND AND VIEW OF HEALTH, RESEARCH SUGGESTS.
“I would never recommend a consumer-grade device to track an actual health condition. This is not what these devices are meant to do.”
Jones, an avid user of multiple devices, including the Whoop, Oura Ring and Apple Watch, shared that the data helps him find what he’s missing and understand his recovery.
“I would never recommend a consumer-grade device to track a real medical condition. This is not what these devices are intended to do,” said Dr. Mike. (Stock)
“Sometimes you don’t realize you’re in a deep sleep, for example, or you might have gotten eight hours, but you weren’t really there, you were tossing and turning,” notes Jones.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLES
Varshavski argued that being too fond of these metrics could backfire.
“When you start to lose track of that by focusing on the numbers, not how you feel, I feel like that disconnects you from your body,” he warns.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH PAPER
“We have a medical term for this called orthosomnia, where we become obsessed with these fitness trackers and sleep data, but it actually increases sleep anxiety.”
“I would never recommend a consumer-grade device to track a real medical condition. This is not what these devices are intended to do,” said Dr. Mike. (Stock)
Jones stressed that for people who have previously neglected internal health in favor of “the way they look … on the surface,” these devices provide a much-needed gateway to health awareness.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
The doctor agreed that the motivation factor is to win as long as the expectations remain realistic. He suggests treating technology with the same perspective as any other piece of fitness gear.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“We can handle these weights like we would a new pair of running shoes. You know, if that makes you feel good about getting an exercise program, why not? Let’s use it.”
