McIlroy defends media snub after leak about non-conforming driver at PGA Championship
CALEDON – Rory McIlroy rarely skips his media responsibilities, but at the PGA Championship, he was nowhere to be seen.
McIlroy explained at the RBC Canadian Open on Wednesday why he skipped media duties after all four rounds of the season's second men's golf major.
Some of it, he said, had to do with long days and wanting to help put his daughter Poppy to bed. But a lot had to do with his annoyance toward two unnamed members of the press corps.
'If we all wanted to, we could all bypass you guys and we could just go on this,' said McIlroy, holding up his cellphone. 'We could go on social media and we could talk about our round and do it our own way.
'We understand that that's not ideal for you guys and there's a bigger dynamic at play here.'
Specifically, McIlroy was annoyed that it was leaked that his driver was disqualified by the USGA before play began at the PGA Championship, forcing him to use a driver he was not comfortable with. He noted that world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler also had his driver disqualified, but that was not reported until later.
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'I talk to the media a lot,' McIlroy said at a news conference. 'I think there should be an understanding that this is a two-way street, and as much as we need to speak to you guys — we understand the benefit that comes from you being here and giving us the platform and everything else, I understand that — but again, I've been beating this drum for a long time.
'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.'
McIlroy said that caution played a role in his decision to skip those four post-round availabilities.
'I didn't want to get up there and say something that I regretted, either,' said McIlroy. 'I'm trying to protect Scottie. I don't want to mention his name. I'm trying to protect TaylorMade. I'm trying to protect the USGA, PGA of America, myself.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025.
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