Rory McIlroy to Face the Music at PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Amid the excitement surrounding the final round of the Memorial Tournament, Rory McIlroy is back in the news, even though he is not competing.
On Sunday, it was announced that the Northern Irishman will hold a press conference next Wednesday as part of the activities leading up to the RBC Canadian Open.
Naturally, this isn't just another press conference; it's a highly anticipated event for fans. It will be the first time McIlroy has spoken publicly since his driver was famously deemed as non-conforming ahead of the PGA Championship.
🚨🎤⛳️ #NEW — Rory McIlroy is scheduled to meet the media on Wednesday after the pro-am at the RBC Canadian Open. The availability will be the first time Rory will have taken questions since declining requests for 4 consecutive days at the PGA Championship. @TrackingRory pic.twitter.com/l3cG1heDzf — NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) June 1, 2025
As you may recall, the United States Golf Association (USGA) tested the five-time major winner's driver before the second major of the season. The club failed the test, and McIlroy had to play with a backup.
Once the PGA Championship started at Quail Hollow, McIlroy didn't speak to the press at all, whether because of his driver, his poor performance during the tournament, or both.
His decision to skip the Memorial Tournament was equally surprising, if not more so.
The PGA Tour Signature Event is hosted by legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, and McIlroy has attended it every year since 2018. Journalists had hoped to speak with McIlroy at the Muirfield Village Golf Club, but that did not happen.
After the USGA declared his driver non-conforming, numerous fans took to social media to question his recent successes, including his victory at the Masters Tournament, which completed his career Grand Slam.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on during the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on during the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
However, many others defended the 29-time PGA Tour winner, arguing that situations like this with drivers are normal and happen all the time. The USGA corroborated this as well.
In fact, one of the drivers tested alongside McIlroy's was Scottie Scheffler's, which was also declared non-conforming. Scheffler went on to win the tournament despite playing with a backup.
However, the incident generated all sorts of comments.
A very talked-about one was made by Lucas Glover on his SiriusXM PGA Tour radio show, where he stated that many players avoid these tests by cheating. According to Glover, these players submit other drivers for testing instead of their competition ones.
Collin Morikawa's response to these claims also received a lot of attention. The two-time major winner said that no player would have such an attitude because using one driver instead of another wouldn't provide a significant advantage.
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