Rory McIlroy has been criticised for his behaviour at the US Open this week as Paul McGinley claimed he looks “fed up” and as though “something is eating at him”
Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley wasn’t afraid to publicly express his concerns over Rory McIlroy’s recent conduct at the US Open. The golf sensation from Northern Ireland saw his ambitions for a second major this year slip away early in the competition after facing challenges at Oakmont Country Club.
In addition to his struggles on the green, McIlroy initially shunned the media during the opening rounds, only breaking his silence after going seven championship rounds without comment.
Following his reflections on the difficulties encountered at the Pennsylvania venue, McIlroy maintained his reticence with the press and sparked controversy by asserting that he “earned the right” to choose when to engage with journalists.
McGinley critiqued McIlroy’s standoffish attitude towards the media, suggesting that the golfer appeared “fed up” and pondering if his Masters triumph had left him emotionally spent, reports the Mirror US.
“I didn’t enjoy them, I don’t like to see that,” stated the 58-year-old on Sky Sports. “I think Rory’s better than that. Either not talking to the media or not giving a press conference like that doesn’t serve him fairly or rightly for the kind of person that he is.
“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, not just in winning the Masters but in his whole career being pointed towards trying to be a Grand Slam winner and now he’s kind of reeling on the ropes a bit after that.
“He’s not himself. This is not normal. People and players look up to him, he’s created such a great profile in the media and a [press] conference like that with his body language and short answers or not doing it doesn’t serve him right.”
McGinley further expressed his concern for McIlroy, saying: “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.”
McGinley had previously criticised McIlroy’s interaction with the media this week. The golfer had expressed his frustration to journalists for divulging information about his non-conforming driver at the PGA Championship that necessitated an urgent switch.
Appearing on Golf Channel’s ‘Live From,’ the ex-Ryder Cup captain described McIlroy’s demeanour during press meetings as “un-Rory-like”.
“I’m no psychologist but it looks like the air has been sucked out of him a little since that, not just in the way he’s played but in his press conferences,” noted McGinley.
“It’s very un-Rory-like in his press conferences to have such low energy. There will be a reset at some stage and it doesn’t look like it’ll come this week. His team are saying he’s playing OK.
“But this is not normal Rory. This is not when he’s at his best in my opinion. I think he’s at his best when he’s p—ed off and he’s out to prove something following off a big loss or something that went wrong.”