Rory McIlroy has dominated the landscape during this year's major championships - both for his on-course performances and his decision to skip media availability on a regular basis.
But McIlroy finally spoke Saturday at the U.S. Open after electing to avoid post-round media for the last six rounds at major championships, and he offered an interesting answer when asked if his decision to do so was based upon his less-than-stellar play.
"No, not really. It's more a frustration with you guys," McIlroy said, according to ASAP Sports. "I've been totally available for the last few years, and I'm not saying - maybe not you guys, but maybe more just the whole thing."
Those last six rounds include the opening two days at Oakmont, where he snuck inside the cut line by a stroke thanks to a strong finish Friday. However, a 74 on Saturday saw him drop to 10-over and sit 13 strokes off Sam Burns' lead.
McIlroy admitted last week in Canada that one of the reasons he wasn't as eager to chat during tournaments was the leaked report that his driver was deemed nonconforming at the PGA Championship. McIlroy was among a handful of players, including Scottie Scheffler, whose driver failed the test, but he was the only one who saw his name reported.
He touched on that once again Saturday.
"I mean, that was a part of it. Yeah, that was a part of it," McIlroy admitted. "But it's not as if - like at Augusta I skipped you guys on Thursday. So yeah, again, it's not if as if - it's not out of the ordinary. I've done it before; I'm just doing it a little more often."
Part of McIlroy's massive swell of fan support over the past 15 years has come from his openness with the press. He routinely gives incredibly thoughtful answers and was one of the most outspoken players about the PGA TOUR-LIV Golf divide prior to the framework agreement signed between the two organizations.
McIlroy leaned on that extensive history of speaking to the media as part of his justification for his current pause.
"I feel like I've earned the right to do whatever I want to do, yeah," McIlroy said.
The 36-year-old has looked like a completely different person on the course since achieving his lifelong goal of winning the Masters and completing the career grand slam in April. He seemed visibly frustrated at both the PGA Championship and this week at Oakmont, even throwing a club and smashing a tee marker in Round 2.
Much of that can be attributed to his less-than-stellar play. McIlroy recently admitted he was struggling to find the same motivation after claiming the elusive green jacket two months ago.
It doesn't appear the media will be getting much post-round reflection Sunday after he laid out his goal for the last day at Oakmont.
"Hopefully a round in under four-and-a-half hours and get out of here," McIlroy said.
