OAKMONT, Pa. — Rory McIlroy characterized his performance at the U.S. Open as fairly average so far, yet what caught attention on Saturday was his willingness to discuss it publicly. After completing the third round with a 4-over 74 at Oakmont, McIlroy held his initial post-round media session of the tournament. He had previously chosen not to engage with reporters following his Thursday and Friday rounds.
When asked whether his avoidance was due to frustration from his performance on the course, McIlroy replied, “Not really. It’s more a frustration with you guys.” Pressed for further explanation, he added, “Maybe not you guys, but maybe more — just the whole thing.”
Just a few months earlier, McIlroy had triumphed at the Masters, thereby completing a career Grand Slam. Since that victory, he has been candid about his challenges in maintaining motivation. Notably, before the PGA Championship, it was determined that his driver did not conform to regulations, news he was displeased to see leaked. This incident prompted him to refrain from speaking to the media after any rounds at Quail Hollow. Although he addressed the media before the start of this U.S. Open, he refrained from doing so after rounds of 74 and 72.
McIlroy’s actions on the course sometimes voiced his frustrations, such as when he threw a club on No. 12 on Friday and shattered a tee marker shortly after. These moments occurred while he played the last 10 holes of the second round in 2 under to narrowly make the cut.
“It’s funny. It’s much easier being on the cut line when you don’t really care if you’re here for the weekend or not,” McIlroy commented. “I was sort of thinking, ‘Do I really want two more days here or not?’”
Reflecting on his performance, McIlroy described his tournament as “pretty average,” though he noted a bright spot in driving the ball as well as he had in a long time. He also contested the idea that his recent media silence marked a new pattern. “At Augusta I skipped you guys on Thursday,” he noted. “I’ve done it before. I’m just doing it a little more often.”
Speculations arise as to what might be bothering McIlroy — it could be his performance, the driver controversy, or perhaps fatigue from the expectations connected to being a leading figure in the golfing world. Known for his approachability, McIlroy has consistently shown support for the PGA Tour, especially when LIV Golf emerged.
Asked if he feels he deserves a respite from these demands, McIlroy confidently responded, “I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do, yeah.” As for his objectives during Sunday’s final 18 holes, McIlroy expressed a desire for “hopefully a round in under 4 1/2 hours and get out of here.”