Irritated Rory McIlroy breaks silence at US Open: "I feel like I've earned the right to do whatever I want"

Rory McIlroy says he believes he has 'earned the right to do whatever I want' as he broke his silence at the US Open. 

McIlroy, 36, posted a third round of 74 at Oakmont on Saturday morning and has absolutely no hope of adding to his Masters triumph. 

The Northern Irishman has not been himself this week and, after battling to make the cut, has drawn sharp criticism for his behaviour on the course.

Said behaviour included McIlroy tossing a club down the fairway in frustration and smashing a tee box marker to smithereens. 

McIlroy did not speak to reporters at all after each round at the PGA Championship and it looked like he was going to continue the trend here. 

But he made himself available for five minutes after his round and he opened up on what has been troubling him. 

Was his decision to not speak to the media influenced by his dip in form?

"No, not really," he said. "It's more frustration with you guys."

Asked to elaborate, McIlroy added: "I'm just, yeah, I don't know. 

"I have, 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."

McIlroy said his frustration came, in part, from what transpired at Quail Hollow during the second men's major of the year. 

News broke on day two of the major that he was forced into making a late equipment switch.

The USGA informed him that his driver was deemed non-conforming as the face of his driver had become too springy. 

Scottie Scheffler, who went on to win his third major title, was also asked to change his driver. 

Yet it was only McIlroy's name that made its way to reporters. 

Perhaps it was a slip of the tongue but McIlroy claimed two members of the media 'leaked' the news and it 'p---ed me off'. 

Members of the media would not be privy to such information and the more likely scenario is a naughty USGA official spilled the beans. 

Whether the news should have been reported is another debate. 

"Yeah, that was a part of it," McIlroy said of his recent snubs. 

"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."

McIlroy explained last week in Canada that professional golfers are not obligated to speak to the media. 

He said that until that changes then it is to be expected that some players refuse requests. 

McIlroy was asked if he was daring the powers that be to change that and make it compulsory. 

"No, I'm not daring them to do anything," McIlroy said.

"I hope they don’t change it because it would, you know — this is, it’s a nice luxury to have.

"But I'm just pointing out the fact that we have the ability to do it."

"I have felt flat"

McIlroy ended his 11-year wait for a major title at the 2025 Masters with a playoff victory over Justin Rose at Augusta National. 

He immediately flew home to Holywood to celebrate with his parents, wife and caddie Harry Diamond.

He has looked off his game since and was particularly poor at the PGA Championship. 

His display was all the more perplexing given he had lifted four PGA Tour titles at Quail Hollow. 

McIlroy drove the ball poorly and was even more erratic at last week's RBC Canadian Open. 

He shot 71-78 to miss the cut by more than 10 strokes. 

McIlroy did previously concede that he was struggling to find motivation but claimed he was primed and ready to go this week. 

"I alluded to it in my pre-tournament press conference, you don't really know how it's [winning The Masters is] going to affect you," he said. 

"You don't know how you're going to react to such a -- I wouldn't say a life-altering occasion, but at least something that I've dreamt about for a long time. 

"Yeah, I alluded to the fact that, yeah, I have felt a little flat on the golf course afterwards."

McIlroy takes aim at pace of play

Pace of play has been glacial so far at the US Open. 

It took the aforementioned Scheffler's group 71 minutes to complete three holes yesterday.

McIlroy, who described his 2025 US Open as 'pretty average', said he felt as though he didn't do a great job at remaining patient.

He was questioning whether he really wanted to make the cut when he was so far adrift of the lead. 

Asked what he hopes for tomorrow, he added: "Hopefully a round in under four and a half hours and get out of here."

Watch the full exchange here: