Rory McIlroy has broken his silence after his behaviour at the recent US Open caused controversy.
]The 36-year-old snubbed the media at Oakmont for the first two rounds amid an inconsistent performance and, when he did eventually speak to them, he went in with all guns blazing.
In a hostile meeting with journalists, he said: “I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do.”
To make matters worse, McIlroy cut a frustrated figure throughout the course of tournament – with the Northern Irishman unable to challenge JJ Spaun for supremacy.
Rory McIlroy has broken his silence after his behaviour at the recent US Open caused controversy
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McIlroy will be aiming to bounce back from that difficult event when he plays at the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut.
He spoke about the need for ‘recovery’ amid his worrying dip in form, with the Briton eager to ensure he’s mentally and physically prepared for future competitions.
“I certainly like to unwind and have a glass of wine on a Sunday night,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say that’s the best recovery modality.”
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“I think everyone’s got their own way of recovering from gruelling weeks.
“I think they’re just the little habits that you pick up along the way, whether it’s physical or whether it’s mental or getting away from it and giving yourself a little bit of time to recharge.
“But yeah, I think it’s important to take care of yourself physically and mentally.
“Especially when you play these big events and there’s a lot of pressure and expectation. It is important to get away from all of that, as well.”
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Rory McIlroy cut a frustrated figure at the recent US Open as JJ Spaun reigned supreme
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It will be intriguing to see how McIlroy fares when he returns to the course.
Many expected him to dominate golf when he finally won the Masters back in April, completing the career Grand Slam and etching his name into the history books in the process.
He toiled at the PGA Championship, however, while his antics at the US Open have set more alarm bells ringing.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit Paul McGinley recently expressed concern for McIlroy and suggested there was something going on behind the scenes, which nobody is privy to, that’s impacting the five-time major champion.
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Discussing McIlroy’s behaviour, he said: “I didn’t enjoy them. 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.
“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.
Rory McIlroy has been a shadow of his usual self ever since winning the Masters
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“When he does that, because people look up to him. A [press] conference like that with his body language and short language doesn’t serve him right.
“I don’t like to see it. I’m disappointed for Rory that it’s come to that.”
