Golf insider floats theory on 'churlish' Rory McIlroy's 'existential crisis': "It makes your head spin"

Golf reporter Alan Shipnuck wonders if Rory McIlroy is finally showing his true colours. 

McIlroy had a spring in his step when he returned to action on the PGA Tour after his triumph at The Masters.

But ever since that driver story broke during the PGA Championship McIlroy has expressed frustration with the media and looked a touch flat and even angry on the golf course.

McIlroy, who smashed a tee box marker in frustration during last week's US Open, has conceded he has found it difficult to find motivation after 'climbing my Everest' in April. 

The 36-year-old admitted if he can't find motivation for next month's Open at Royal Portrush in his home country then he doesn't know where it will come from.

"It's been fascinating to watch this existential crisis he's going through since the Masters," Shipnuck told Indo Sport's podcast, hosted by Joe Molloy. 

"And, you know, everyone has a theory. I think there's a few things going on, you know. He has talked about it, it's just the letdown of chasing this dream. 

"But you know, when Phil won the Masters in 2004 to break through after a dozen years of being the best player without a major. All of the questions about him. That was as cathartic a win as Rory's was. 

"And Phil just kept going; he had his best year that year. You don't have to have a huge let-down."

Shipnuck continued: "Rory's an emotional player, just like Phil was. And I think he's out of emotion. He just looks so flat on the golf course, and off the golf course."

Not only did McIlroy destroy a tee box marker at Oakmont he also tomahawked a club down the fairway after a loose iron shot. 

McIlroy then explained his issues with the media, telling reporters he believed he has earned the right to do as he pleases with regards to his post-round commitments. 

Shipnuck said: "It's an interesting point, this churlish version of Rory. Is this the real Rory? And for 18 years, it has been this incredible façade where he always said and did the right thing. 

"He was so widely admired and so classy and everyone loved him. We thought that was the real Rory, but was that all pretend and now we're seeing the real Rory? 

"It makes your head spin thinking about how much he has changed in such a short period of time.

"The thing that's lost in this debate about the media is that nobody cares about the tender feelings of self-important reporters. He walks by us, and some guys are personally indigent. That doesn't matter. 

"But we are the stand-ins for the fans. Our job is to represent the fans and ask the questions they wish they could ask when they are at home in their living room watching this. 

"Rory is such a good talker. He adds so much context to what we are witnessing. I would have loved to hear his thoughts on the setup at Oakmont. He didn't speak, and when he did, it was so short.

"He's so eloquent when he speaks about the nuts and bolts of golf. It adds important context to the whole event. It's an entertainment product. Rory's immaculate, spectacular lifestyle doesn’t exist without golf fans. 

"He's not flying home in a $70 million dollar jet without the fans. So when you snub the reporters, you are really snubbing fans. It’s not about the press, it's about disengaging with the fanbase."