Rory McIlroy’s Behavior Addressed by Golf Legend: ‘I’m Disappointed’

Rory McIlroy was on top of the world when he won the Masters back in April, completing a career Grand Slam. After relishing in the big win, he took some time away from the course, letting it all soak in. When he returned to compete, however, his game didn't look the same.

It's no secret that McIlroy has been struggling over the past couple of months and, at the 2025 U.S. Open in mid-June, he seemed to let his frustrations get the best of him. The golf pro made headlines when he threw a club and smashed a tee marker during the second round.

When it came time to speak to the press, McIlroy didn't seem very interested. However, he did make some comments at the Oakmont’s clubhouse on Saturday, June 14. He called his outing at the Open "pretty average" and it was clear he just wasn't in a great mindset.

When McIlroy was asked if he was frustrated with the venue, McIlroy responded, "No, not really. It's more a frustration with you guys." He went on to defend his decision to skip the press and pointed out that it wasn't super uncommon for him. Moreover, McIlroy proved his apparent disinterest in playing in the Open.

"It's funny, like it's much easier being on the cut line when you don't really care if you're here for the weekend or not. I was sort of thinking, do I really want two more days here or not. So it makes it easier to play better when you're in that mindset," he said.

In the time since, golf legend Paul McGinley has weighed in on McIlroy's comments.

"I don't like to see that. I think Rory's better than that. Either not talking to the media or giving a press conference like that doesn't serve him fairly or rightly for the person that he is," McGinley said, according to Golf.com journalist James Colgan.

"He looks fed up to me. He looks like he's had enough of everything. Whether it was the emotional release of everything that's gone on in his career, I don't know, but he's not himself. This is not normal. When he does that, because people look up to him, a conference like that with his body language and short language doesn't serve him right," McGinley continued.

"I don't like to see it. I'm disappointed for Rory that it's come to that. Something is eating at him. He hasn't let us know what it is, but there's something not right," he added.

McIlroy is expected to tee off for the first round of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut on June 19.