Rory McIlroy Skips Media Requests After PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy suffered an unfortunate break right before the PGA Championship when he learned the driver he planned to use in the tournament was deemed "no longer permissible" and he was forced to make a change.
"We can confirm that the USGA was invited to do club testing at the PGA Championship, at the PGA of America's request. That testing program is consistent with the same level of support that the USGA provides to the PGA Tour and other championships, as part of their regular programs for driver testing," a statement from Kerry Haigh, Chief Championships Office, PGA of America said.
"The standard process is for about a third of the field to be randomly tested under the program. That was the case at Quail Hollow this week. Finding driver heads that have crept over the line of conformance is not an unusual occurrence, especially for clubs that are hit thousands of times over a long period of time."
It was a tough weekend for McIlroy who entered the tournament as the second betting favorite behind Scottie Scheffler. In the end, the five-time major winner finished the tournament 3-over and 15 shots back of Scheffler, who went on to win the tournament.
After he was done, McIlroy opted not to speak with the media, which he did all four days, despite being requested for interviews. It was a decision golf reporter Kyle Porter suggested was "bizarre" and "deserves criticism."
"I don't get real wound up about players missing media for a round or honestly even several of them. He talks a ton, more than anyone, and I don't need his quotes to write a dumb newsletter," Porter said on social media. "But to not talk at all after play started on Thursday (especially given all the requests) is out of character and -- whether it's fair or not -- an abdication of responsibility as one of the greats."
His post sparked plenty of debate in the golf world and was viewed over 450,000 times on X - formerly Twitter.
"He just won the masters and the career grand slam, he could’ve come out and shot 80 both days, missed the cut and it wouldn’t matter, he is still currently the man. Come out and answer some easy questions about your driver and your win at the masters. Really strange," one person suggested.
"Porter, enough about the driver. Your only case here (or anyone’s, for that matter) is it’s the next Major/dude just completed the career Grand Slam. If he was in contention? Sure. Otherwise, we didn’t have to hear from him this week," another said conversely.
"It's kind of incredible how *little* Rory's first post-Augusta major has seemed at all fun for him," added golf reporter Shane Ryan.
McIlroy's next shot at a major will come at the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club teeing off on June 12.
Related: Scottie Scheffler, Amanda Balionis Interview Turns Heads Amid PGA Championship