Rory McIlroy set to break PGA Tour media silence ahead of RBC Canadian Open after non-conforming driver controversy
RORY MCILROY is set to break his media silence at this week's RBC Canadian Open.
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Rory McIlroy has not spoken with the media since prior to the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow
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The Grand Slam champion made headlines for swapping out a 'non-conforming' driver due to a failed test of the club
Five-time major winner McIlroy made headlines for swapping out a
The Grand Slam winner has remained tight-lipped on the failed driver test, opting not to speak publicly about the issue during his time in Charlotte.
That radio silence extended to 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus as the golf icon
However, with the Canadian Open up next, he's expected to face questions on the matter when he returns to the media spotlight.
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The Down native has been confirmed for PGA Tour media duties after the PRO-AM on Wednesday, a day ahead of the opening round at TPC Toronto in Osprey Valley.
Masters champion McIlroy will be looking for his fourth win of the campaign at the RBC Canadian Open.
It comes just one week ahead of the season's third major at the US Open.
Failing equipment tests is far from uncommon on the PGA Tour - even for the best.
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Scottie Scheffler, fresh off his
The world number one revealed he was also forced to swap out his driver after it failed testing in the aftermath of his victory.
Scottie Scheffler living 'peak dad life' as he's handed baby son with 'poop stain' immediately after winning £3million
Plenty of other golf star had varying opinions on the testing, such as Collin Morikawa , Xander Schauffele and Lucas Glover.
McIlroy will be looking for a hat-trick of wins at the tournament that gets underway on Thursday with all the action live on Sky Sports Golf
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The Irish Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Rory McIlroy breaks silence after non-conforming driver controversy as he slams media for leaking confidential results
RORY MCILROY has hit out at the media after finally breaking his silence ahead of the RBC Canadian Open. The 2 Rory McIlroy spoke to the media ahead of the RBC Canadian Open on Wednesday 2 19.07.2017. Open Golf, Royal Birkdale, Southport, Merseyside. Times Photographer Bradley Ormesher. Rory McIlroy. Rory's driver head cover. Five-time major winner McIlroy made headlines for swapping out a But on Wednesday, he decided to break that silence at He accused two unnamed media members of leaking the confidential test results about his non-conforming driver. read more on golf The Holywood hotshot then detailed further reasons as why he staged a media blackout. 'Second day, we finished late and I wanted to go back and see Poppy [his daughter] before she went to bed. The driver [non-conforming] news broke - I didn't really want to speak on that. 'Saturday, I was meant to tee off at 8:20 in the morning. I didn't tee off until almost two o'clock in the afternoon - another late finish. I was just tired and wanted to go home. Most read in Golf 'And on Sunday, I just wanted to get on the plane and go back to Florida.' The five-time major winner says he was irritated after the results were leaked before stating that he wanted to protect Scottie Scheffler, who also failed the driver test. Jack Nicklaus stunned as Rory McIlroy ghosts Memorial Tournament host and golf legend ahead of PGA Tour Signature event He added: 'Yep, and so - I was a little pissed off because I knew that Scottie's [Scheffler] driver had failed [compliance test] on Monday, but my name was the one that was leaked. It was meant to stay confidential - two members of the media were the ones that leaked it. 'I didn't want to say something I regretted, either. There's a lot of people… 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 - and myself. 'So I just didn't want to get up there and say something I regretted at the time. And with Scottie's stuff - that's just not my information to share. 'I knew that that had happened - that his test had also failed — but that's not on me to share, and I felt that process is supposed to be kept confidential. It wasn't, for whatever reason, and that's why I was pretty annoyed." In a further jibe at the media, the Northern Irishman said he could boycott the media if he wanted to as PGA Tour rules do not require players to speak with the press. McIlroy seemingly contradicted himself as he stated that he could use social media instead of speaking with the press, before saying it must be a two-way understanding between media members and players. He added: 'From a responsibility standpoint - I understand - if we all wanted to, we could bypass you guys and just go on social media to talk about our round and do it our own way. 'We understand that's not ideal for you guys, because there's a bigger dynamic at play here. I talk to you guys, and I talk to the media a lot. 'I think there should be an understanding that this is a two-way street. "As much as we need to speak to you guys, we also understand the benefit of you being here — 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 [obligatory to speak to the media]. 'Until the day it's written into the rules, you're going to have guys that skip from time to time - and that's well within our rights.'
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Rory McIlroy admits he was ‘pissed off' over driver fail leak at US PGA
Silence, sometimes, can be golden. Or not. In Rory McIlroy's case, his decision to remain media shy for the entirety of the recent US PGA Championship , through all four rounds at Quail Hollow, came with a myriad of reasons which – finally – he explained ahead of the RBC Canadian Open in Ontario. Of course, the case of how McIlroy's TaylorMade driver's failed characteristic time (CT) test prior to the opening round was leaked, while that of Scottie Scheffler's failed test wasn't, proved the primary thorn in the world number two's side and why he opted to keep his thoughts to himself. In describing the PGA week as 'weird' for a variety of reasons, he provided day-by-day explanations for not talking to any media – written, radio or television – following any round. Day one. 'I didn't play well the first day, so I wanted to go practice.' READ MORE Day two. 'We finished late. I wanted to go back and see Poppy before she went to bed.' Also, that day, the news of his driver failing the CT test broke. 'I didn't really want to speak on that,' he admitted. Come Saturday, another reason for not talking. 'I was supposed to tee off at 8.20 in the morning. I didn't tee off until almost 2.0 in the afternoon, another late finish, was just tired, wanted to go home.' Then, Sunday's final round. Again, quiet. Rory McIlroy speaks to the media ahead of the start of the RBC Canadian Open. Photograph:'I just wanted to get on the plane and go back to Florida. Yeah, look, and also the driver stuff, there was – I was a little pissed off because I knew that Scottie's driver had failed on Monday, but my name was the one that was leaked. It was supposed to stay confidential. Two members of the media were the ones that leaked it. 'Again, I didn't want to get up there and say something that I regretted, either, because there's a lot of people that – 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. I just didn't want to get up there and say something that I regretted at the time. 'With Scottie's stuff, that's not my information to share. I knew that that had happened, but that's not on me to share that, and I felt that process is supposed to be kept confidential, and it wasn't for whatever reason. That's why I was pretty annoyed at that,' expanded McIlroy on his rationale for keeping away from media, as – under the rules and regulations of the PGA of America and the PGA Tour – he was entitled to do. He added: '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 ... just some days you don't feel like talking.' McIlroy – a three-time winner on the PGA Tour with his Masters success in April completing the career Grand Slam and joining the AT&T Pebble Beach pro-am and The Players on his season's roll of honour – is back playing in Canada for the first time since Quail Hollow in a quest for a third Canadian Open title. His previous two wins, though, came at different venues and, like the majority of the field, the TPC Toronto layout is a new one for this week's tour stop. 'There's a little bit of room off the tee, the fairways are quite generous, but if you miss them, the rough is pretty penal. The greens are tricky, undulating, really got to hit it into the right sections,' said McIlroy. 'I think it could be a good test by the end of the week if there's no rain and it firms up a little bit and they can tuck the pins away.' McIlroy is one of three Irish players in the field in Toronto ahead of next week's US Open at Oakmont, with Shane Lowry – the third best ranked player in the field after McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg based off the world rankings – and Séamus Power also chasing the title which was won last year by Robert MacIntyre. Lowdown Purse: $9.8 million/€8.65 million ($1.76 million to the winner/€1.55 million). Where: Caledon, Ontario. The course: TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) – 7,389 yards, par 70 – is designed by Ian Andrew and is playing host to the tournament for the first time after undergoing significant renovation through 2023 and 2024 to prepare for the PGA Tour event. The course is a public facility. It is seen as a second shot golf course with an emphasis on approach play to greens well protected by strategic bunkering. The field: No Scottie Scheffler this week as he rests up ahead of next week's US Open so it is Rory McIlroy's turn to sprinkle the star dust in his quest for a third Canadian Open title. McIlroy and Ryder Cup team-mate Ludvig Aberg are the only two players from the world's top-10 in the field as many take a break ahead of Oakmont. Quote-Unquote: 'The last two weeks have been pretty good for me, I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. It's not been kind of easy sailing for me this year. It's been a little bit of trying to fix certain things. But now I feel like we're on the right path and the game's starting to kind of merge together.' – defending champion Robert MacIntyre on turning his game around. The Scot is playing for the fifth straight week on tour and has four top-10s so far this season. Irish in the field: McIlroy is grouped with Aberg and Luke Clanton, making his pro debut, as part of the early wave (off the 10th, 12.40pm Irish time); Shane Lowry is in a three-ball with MacIntyre and Corey Conners, the top ranked Canadian off the world rankings (off the 1st at 5.55pm Irish time); while Séamus Power is grouped with Peter Malnati and Rafael Campos (off the 1st at 6.06pm). Aside from his tournament ambitions, Power will also be chasing one of three spots available for those not already exempt for the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Betting: McIlroy is looking for a third win at the tournament (at a third different venue) and, playing for the first time since the US PGA, is market leader at 4-1 with Aberg next at 12-1 and Shane Lowry alongside Corey Conners at 20s. However, better value may lie elsewhere: Nick Taylor is coming off a top-5 at the Memorial and looks decently priced at 40-1 each-way, while Erik van Rooyen's performance in the US Open qualifying would suggest the Springbok has found some form and is worth a look each-way at 80-1. On TV: Live on Sky Sports (early round coverage from 5pm).
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rory McIlroy explains US PGA anger after non-conforming driver fiasco
Rory McIlroy has finally opened up about his media silence at the Canadian Open presser, following his decision not to engage with the press after each round of the US PGA major tournament. The world number two from Holywood endured a tough week, tying for 47th place at Quail Hollow, despite a previously stellar track record with four wins at the course. Amid Scottie Scheffler's runaway five-shot triumph, McIlroy came under scrutiny when reports emerged that his driver had fallen foul of a legality test by the PGA Tour. Addressing his lack of interaction with the press at the PGA, McIlroy came clean. "Yeah, look, the PGA was a bit of a weird week. I didn't play well. I didn't play well the first day, so I wanted to go practice, so that was fine," he explained. "Second day we finished late. I wanted to go back and see Poppy (daughter) before she went to bed. The driver news broke. I didn't really want to speak on that. "Saturday I was supposed to tee off at 8.20am in the morning. I didn't tee off until almost 2pm in the afternoon, another late finish, was just tired, wanted to go home. Then Sunday, I just wanted to get on the plane and go back to Florida." When it came to the controversy over his non-conforming driver, the Masters champion revealed his frustration towards the situation and the fact it became public knowledge, especially since Scheffler's driver was also deemed non-compliant. "I was a little pissed off because I knew that Scottie's driver had failed on Monday, but my name was the one that was leaked," admitted McIlroy. "It was supposed to stay confidential. Two members of the media were the ones that leaked it. Again, I didn't want to get up there and say something that I regretted, either. "With Scottie's stuff, that's not my information to share. I knew that that had happened, but that's not on me to share that, and I felt that process is supposed to be kept confidential, and it wasn't for whatever reason. That's why I was pretty annoyed at that. "From a responsibility standpoint, look, I understand, but if we all wanted to, we could all bypass you guys and we could just go on this and we could go on social media and we could talk about our round and do it our own way. "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're sort of - like we understand the benefit that comes from you being here and giving us the platform and everything else. So 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."
