Rory McIlroy just defended his decision to avoid media availability after every round of the PGA Championship. The event was held at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. I think every golfer went through three or four different tournaments in this tournament! He highlighted a long list of individual annoyances and challenges that went into his plan.
Even as a talented golfer and eventual champion, McIlroy faced significant challenges. It all seemed to be going well until he bombed the first round, coming in at a horrible 3-over par 74. This was particularly painful for the four-time champion of the course. Compounding his difficulties was the news that his driver had been deemed nonconforming by the United States Golf Association (USGA) during pre-tournament testing. This watched unfolded during what McIlroy called a “weird week.”
“Of course, my name was the one that got out,” added McIlroy, who couldn’t hide his displeasure that word of his equipment switch had leaked out before the proper time. “I was a little pissed off because I knew that Scottie’s driver had failed on Monday.”
McIlroy decided not to speak to the media during the tournament at all, and finished in a tie for 47th. As to the “why,” he made his case convincingly. He didn’t want to risk spontaneously saying something he would later regret in the heat of an emotional moment.
I was just tired, wanted to go home,” he lamented, looking back on his last – and late – finishes. “Then Sunday, I just wanted to get on the plane and go back to Florida.” Even worse, his third round tee time was delayed almost six hours by hazardous weather, making his already dicey situation all the more precarious.
Accessibility to media has been an incredibly popular talking point on the PGA Tour this year. McIlroy underscored that as much as he appreciates significant media coverage, he feels there needs to be some respect given both ways in this equation.
“I speak to the press all the time,” he said. “And I would hope that there’s an appreciation on that side too, that this is a two-way street. We know the value that it adds to the show by having you be here and providing us the soapbox, the space and all that good stuff.”
While admitting that there is some responsibility on his part, McIlroy argued that players should be afforded the discretion of when to make themselves available to the press. He remarked, “If they want to make it mandatory, that’s fine. But in our rules it says that it’s not, and until the day that that’s maybe written into the regulations, you’re going to have guys skip from time to time, and that’s well within our rights.”
Given these challenges and choices that lie ahead, McIlory said he wants to turn his attention more to his game and his personal life. After his first round, he opted to practice instead of engaging with reporters and wanted to spend time with his family before they went to bed.
McIlroy’s reflections on his week at the PGA Championship reveal a conflicted relationship with the media and the pressures of professional golf. As he put it, players have enough things on the outside that can affect their performances and mindsets going into tournaments.
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