Golf's silent treatment issue is now coming to a head

Irish Examiner

17 hours ago

A little cobbled courtyard in front of the scorer's office at the Quail Hollow Club was the setting for some tough scenes last month.
Those stones saw more rejected advances than this writer's days on a disco dance floor.
BBC Northern Ireland had dispatched a reporter and a cameraman to the site of the PGA Championship in North Carolina for the week, a significant transatlantic outlay in this era of ever-tightening sportsdesk budgets.
But Rory McIlroy was coming off his glorious career grand slam moment in Augusta and interest levels justified the expense.
On the Saturday afternoon, when McIlroy turned down all dance requests from the media for a third-straight day, the men from the Beeb at least had the consolation of Tom McKibbin coming in soon after.
The 22-year-old had made the weekend in his debut at the year's second major. As an apprentice to his fellow Holywood master he could have some insights on many fronts. All was not lost.
That was until McKibbin also turned down the media request. Back to dancing on your own, boys.
To his credit, McKibbin did speak every other day. McIlroy, of course, left Quail Hollow without having made a single post-round appearance in front of a microphone.
On Thursday lunchtime at Oakmont, the world No.2 again said no to media requests after opening his US Open account with a 4-over 74.
For those counting, that's now five-straight rounds at major championships where McIlroy has given the press the silent treatment.
Before you think this is a naval-gazing, self-important plea for someone, anyone to think of the sports journalists, let's be clear: that's not our aim.
Professional golfers play arguably the most mentally oppressive sport there is. Expecting them all to stroll off the 18th and instantly recite poetry about the pain they've just experienced is unrealistic and perhaps even unfair.
Whether you're reporting on site from one of these big weeks or the even the less-heralded stops on tour, one common habit is to check how the player you're eager to speak with has finished their round. Birdie on 18?
The form should be good. Par? We'll be alright. Bogey? Hmmm, this could be dicey. Double or treble? Maybe we can leave the chat til tomorrow.
This approach isn't shared by everyone in the media centre, of course.
There has arguably never been as much focus and as many requests from broadcast, written and social media for the game's leading lights and some of the journalistic skills can leave a lot to be desired.
On Thursday afternoon, amateur Matthew Vogt came into the Oakmont interview tent after shooting a 12-over 82. The first query from the press pack was as follows: 'Matt, talk about everything?'
It was an equally lazy question which lit the fuse for Shane Lowry's angst at Augusta when he rightly bristled at being asked for his take on Rory McIlroy when he was still processing his own Masters outlook.
Between Lowry, McIlroy and Collin Morikawa's spirited takes on the topic, this has been a season where it very much feels like an issue coming to a head.
Paul McGinley has established himself as one of the more respected pundits on tour in recent times with his Live From appearances alongside Brandel Chamblee making for often essential viewing.
After McIlroy had gone mute on Thursday, the former Ryder Cup captain had his take.
'I think the mistake lies not so much with Rory or Morikawa or anyone else who doesn't [talk to the media],' McGinley insisted. 'The mistake lies with golf and why isn't golf mandating these guys to [talk]? They're playing for ridiculously high price points. They've got to give a little bit back. And good, bad or indifferent, it needs to be mandated that they [talk] for the good of the game and the good of the tournament.'
When making his reappearance on tour last week in Canada, McIlroy addressed his Quail Hollow media snubs. The chatter around his non-compliant driver hadn't helped. But in response to a query from the Examiner, McIlroy also added that 'some days you don't feel like talking'.
As often the case with the 36-year-old, forever one of the game's most available and open speakers, there appears to be something more strategic here too.
The fact that the players aren't currently contractually obliged to speak is something he feels should change.
'If we all wanted to, we could bypass you guys and go on social media and do it our own way,' he said. 'We understand that that's not ideal for you guys and there's a bigger dynamic at play here. I talk to you guys a lot. I think there should be an understanding that this is a two-way street.
"But 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.'
This, however, remains a delicate time for the sport. It's striking that this week in Pittsburgh the two most engaging press conferences came from LIV golfers, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau's sessions in the tent were great to watch and listen to.
After his impressive opening round Brooks Koepka, not particularly one of the game's most eloquent speakers, was nonetheless happy to go deep on a very rough few months for him.
As much as DeChambeau has harnessed YouTube to remarkable effect, transforming into the man of at least some the people, there is still a place for all types of media. We're ultimately a communication channel to the rest of the people.
Talk about everything? No, that's not the way. But it's surely not too much to talk about something.