Paul McGinley blasts Rory McIlroy for shunning media interviews at PGA Championship

Paul McGinley has slammed Rory McIlroy for refusing to speak with the media during the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club last week.

McIlroy, 36, did attend his pre-tournament press conference on the Wednesday.

But he then shunned all media interview requests from Thursday's first round through to Sunday's final round in Charlotte. 

News emerged during the first round that McIlroy's 'gamer' driver had been deemed non-conforming by the USGA.

There was deemed to be 'no player intent', according to the PGA of America. 

He had to therefore use a replacement driver for all four days of the PGA Championship. 

It seemingly affected McIlroy's performance too, as he ranked well down the field for driving accuracy and strokes-gained off the tee. 

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It also emerged during the week that multiple other drivers had failed the latest CT test, including the driver of eventual PGA champion Scottie Scheffler.

The World No.1 spoke more about that after his win. 

Whether the driver controversy that unfolded at the PGA Championship was the main reason for McIlroy refusing media interview requests remains to be seen.

McIlroy had a week to forget at one of his favourite Tour stops. 

The World No.2 ended up just inside the top 50. 

McIlroy looked a shadow of his Masters-winning best in April. 

But back to the top of the story, and his fellow Irishman Paul McGinley has hit out at McIlroy's decision to snub the media. 

McGinley also took aim when Collin Morikawa refused interviews after the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. 

Morikawa stormed out of Bay Hill after losing a commanding lead to Russell Henley on the back nine. 

McIlroy later backed the actions of Morikawa, who defended himself by saying he "owed nobody anything". 

But McGinley isn't a fan of it.

Even if it is his compatriot McIlroy. 

"My view is very clear," former European Ryder Cup captain and now golf analyst McGinley said on Sky Sports. 

"I said it about Collin Morikawa and I'll say it about other players, I'll say it about Rory McIlroy, I don't like it when they don't do interviews.

"I don't think it's good for the game, I don't think it's good for their persona. 

"Rory is very popular and you run the risk of undoing a lot of the popularity when you don't speak, whatever his reasons were."

Fellow Irishman Shane Lowry also refused to speak with the media after being denied victory by Sepp Straka at the Truist Championship earlier this month. 

Meanwhile, Golf Channel analyst Johnson Wagner has leapt to the defence of McIlroy refusing media interviews.