McIlroy clears the air after frustrating third round at U.S. Open

OAKMONT, Pa. — Over the last three years, hearing from Rory McIlroy has been appointment viewing. Smart, thoughtful, and considerate, McIlroy has excelled in the press room as much as he has on the course.  

That’s what makes the last month or so such a vexing time on planet golf, as McIlroy spoke for the first time in six major-championship rounds Saturday — and kept things short and snappy.  

Now, let’s be clear — there is no formal obligation for McIlroy to speak, well, ever. It’s not part of the PGA Tour’s mandated rules and regulations for its players, like it is in other sports, and McIlroy has given more time to the media than basically anyone else over the last half-decade. He also spoke at length at the RBC Canadian Open last week, both pre-tournament and for both days that he was at TPC Toronto (even giving 1:1 interviews to rights-holder television networks).  

Maybe, then, if the media wants to speak with McIlroy, they should come to Canada.  

Joking aside, it’s been an odd time for McIlroy since his Masters triumph.  

He was the favourite at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club, a golf course he’s dominated through the years, winning four times. He didn’t speak at all there and said it was due to a variety of factors, including when he played, how poorly he had played, and the news about his driver not passing the USGA standardized testing getting leaked.  

He also skipped out on media duties on both Thursday and Friday here at Oakmont Country Club and heads into Sunday’s finale 14 shots back of the lead held by Sam Burns — who is hunting for his first major title. In fact, there is only one golfer — Adam Scott — who has a major to their name and is inside the top 10 on the leaderboard.  

It should have been happy hunting for McIlroy this week, but instead Saturday, he admitted he was frustrated with both the state of his play and with journalists.  

Add it all up, and, well, what can you really say?  

McIlroy made a birdie on his final hole Friday to sneak into the cutline by one shot. He shot a 4-over 74 Saturday and is 10 over for the championship.  

“It's funny, like it's much easier being on the cut line when you don't really care if you're here for the weekend or not,” McIlroy said with a laugh. “I was sort of thinking — do I really want two more days here or not? So, it makes it easier to play better when you're in that mindset.” 

McIlroy, who has won three times already this season, including, of course, his incredible Masters victory to complete the career grand slam, has been struggling with finding both motivation and a new set of goals since his Green Jacket triumph.  

He admitted as such both this week and last week in Toronto.  

But he was visibly irked when he was pressed on Saturday afternoon in a media availability that lasted less than five minutes.  

“I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do,” McIlroy said.  

McIlroy skipped the Memorial Tournament two weeks ago to tee it up at TPC Toronto, where he shot an uncharacteristic 71-78 to miss the cut by a mile. His result on the leaderboard, 149th, was his worst on the PGA Tour.  

McIlroy had an awful week off the tee in Canada but admitted Saturday things have turned around nicely with the big stick this week. McIlroy is seventh in strokes gained: off the tee through 54 holes at the U.S. Open.  

“I've driven the ball better. I've driven the ball as good as I have in a long time, so that's at least a positive this week,” McIlroy said.  

The 36-year-old was asked, again, if he’s been feeling completely blasé about his job over the last 60 days or so and admitted that was indeed the case.  

“I alluded to it in my pre-tournament press conference, you don't really know how it's going to affect you. You don't know how you're going to react to such a, I wouldn't say a life-altering occasion, but at least something that I've dreamt about for a long time,” McIlroy said. “I alluded to the fact that, yeah, I have felt a little flat on the golf course afterwards.” 

Now, Sunday is Father’s Day, and McIlroy talked about travelling the world with his 5-year-old, Poppy, and how much fun they’ve had together doing exactly that. McIlroy can choose to do whatever he wishes now — the game’s brightest star has done something only five other men have done in the history of golf.  

We want to hear more from him because he’s given us so much to enjoy. But if he wants to enjoy whatever other parts of his life, he has, in his own words, earned that right.  

As far as the final round goes? He sounds like most fathers on Father’s Day who get to enjoy a round of golf.  

“Hopefully a round in under four and a half hours and get out of here,” McIlroy said.