Rory McIlroy was a no-show with the media once again after a disappointing opening round at the US Open.
The Masters champion finished four-over 74 at Oakmont to sit joint-62nd in the leaderboard heading into Friday’s action.
McIlroy has a huge mountain to climb at the US OpenGettyMcIlroy started on the tenth hole and hit two birdies in his opening three holes, but four bogeys and a double bogey followed later on.
His hopes of a second major title win in 2025 now appear slim and he seemed to be in no mood to speak on his performance afterwards.
The Northern Irishman snubbed the media for the fifth consecutive round at a major after his PGA Championship absences.
McIlroy defended his decision before the Canadian Open, citing the reports of his non-conforming driver in North Carolina.
“I was a little p***ed off because I knew that Scottie’s [Scheffler] driver had failed on Monday, but my name was the one that was leaked,” he said. “It was supposed to stay confidential.
“Two members of the media were the ones that leaked it. I didn’t want to get up there and say something I regretted either.”
However, McIlroy’s former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes officials may need to change the rules and order players to conduct media duties.
“This is not a hit on Rory. This is a hit on everybody,” he said as per FOX Sports.
“I think the mistake lies not so much with Rory or [Collin] Morikawa [who has also refused interviews] or anybody else who doesn’t do it.
“The mistake lies with golf. Why isn’t golf mandating these guys to do it?
Once again, McIlroy did not appear in front of the mediaGetty McGinley believes it’s on tournament officials to make players speakGetty“They are playing for ridiculously high prize funds week on week on week. They’ve got to give a little back.
“Good, bad or indifferent it needs to be mandated to say, ‘Guys, we need you to do this for the good of the game.'”
It is not compulsory for golfers to speak to the media at tournaments and McIlroy has emphasised this in recent weeks.
“From a responsibility standpoint, look, I understand,” he also said at the Canadian Open.
“But if we all wanted to, we could all bypass you guys and we could just on this [shows phone] and 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. I talk to you guys and I talk to the media a lot.
McIlroy says it’s a two-way street with golfers and the mediaGetty“I think there should be an understanding that this 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, 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 right.”
JJ Spaun leads the US Open after a four-under par finish in round one as Thriston Lawrence sits one behind.
Brooks Koepka, Sung-Jae Im and Si-Woo Kim are all tied for third with two-under.
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