Rory McIlroy explains decision to duck media at PGA, saying he didn’t want to discuss driver issue

CALEDON Ontario AP Rory McIlroy explained his decision not to speak to the media during last month s PGA Championship saying Wednesday he was annoyed that news had leaked about his driver failing to pass inspection before the tournament McIlroy announced the results of equipment tests are supposed to be confidential and noted that Scottie Scheffler s driver had also failed before the championship but that was not published until afterward Scheffler revealed after he won the PGA for his third major title that he had been forced to use a backup driver I didn t want to get up there and say something that I regretted McIlroy reported in a news conference at the Canadian Open which begins Thursday 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 It was a strange week for McIlroy who arrived at the PGA as the largest part celebrated athlete in golf after he completed the career Grand Slam with his triumph at the Masters Instead of taking a domination lap at Quail Hollow a program where he has won four times McIlroy was in a bad mood all week and his refusal to discuss the driver test was much debated McIlroy gave a day-by-day breakdown of his decisions not to talk to reporters saying he yearned to practice after his poor first round He finished his second round late and required to put his daughter Poppy to bed He didn t want to talk about his driver he was tired after his weather-delayed third round and after his week concluded with a tie for th place he just requested to go home He reiterated that PGA Tour players are not required to speak to the media I talk to the media a lot McIlroy explained 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 understand the benefit that comes from you being here and 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 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 McIlroy also declined to talk to reporters after he blew a late lead and lost to Bryson DeChambeau in last year s U S Open at Pinehurst No He s a two-time winner of the Canadian Open and he skipped a PGA Tour signature event last week at the Memorial to play in Canada as his tuneup for next week s U S Open at Oakmont Whether he ll be interested in discussing his performance at the storied western Pennsylvania venue remains to be seen If we all needed to we could all circumvent you guys and we could just go on this McIlroy announced holding up his phone 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 AP golf https apnews com hub golf Source