Rory McIlroy Defends His Stance on Media Amid 2025 Travelers Championship Surge
Rory McIlroy has recently addressed the ongoing criticism regarding his avoidance of post-round media duties, particularly after underwhelming performances in major tournaments earlier this year. After his opening round at the 2025 Travelers Championship, the four-time major winner took the opportunity to clarify his position and emphasize that, while his approach may be selective, he still recognizes the importance of media in modern golf.
🚨🎤⛳️ #POST ROUND — Following a bogey free round of -6, 64, Rory McIlroy was asked for his opinion on the role
of journalists in golf. @TrackingRory“I’m not a journalist. I don’t know. Report the birdies and bogeys, I guess. And obviously you have to — the storylines sort of… pic.twitter.com/2LdtxcZDt6
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) June 19, 2025
Following his triumphant win at the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National, McIlroy’s form dipped noticeably at the PGA Championship, where he declined all media engagements. He repeated this stance at the U.S. Open after failing to make a strong impact, leading to criticism from both media and fans.
During a press conference at TPC River Highlands, McIlroy was asked to comment on the role of journalism and traditional reporting in the sport. He responded by acknowledging that the media continues to serve a purpose in covering the game. However, he also pointed out that today’s fans consume sports content through various platforms beyond just traditional journalism.
“I’m not a journalist,” McIlroy said. “I don’t know. Report the birdies and bogeys, I guess. And obviously, the storylines sort of write themselves for the most part. But yeah, I certainly see the need for it and see the need for the platform. Like, I’ve never argued that.”
He added, “There are so many ways people get their sports news and entertainment these days. It certainly isn’t the only avenue.”
McIlroy had also previously commented after the third round of the U.S. Open on his decision to avoid media interviews, stating that he feels he’s “earned the right” to choose when and how he engages with the press. He emphasized that players are not obligated to speak to the media after every round and defended his actions by saying he wasn’t doing anything wrong.
As of the Travelers Championship, McIlroy has made 12 starts on the PGA Tour this season. He has secured three victories and finished in the top ten on four occasions. His only missed cut this year came at the RBC Canadian Open.
In his opening round at the Travelers, McIlroy delivered a clean performance with no bogeys. He tallied three birdies on the front nine and three on the back, finishing with a 6-under-par 64. This strong showing placed him in a tie for third place on the leaderboard, alongside Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley.
Leading the field are Scottie Scheffler and Austin Eckroat, who both carded 8-under rounds.
Though McIlroy has 29 PGA Tour wins to his name, the Travelers Championship has eluded him thus far. He did not play in the event last year but finished tied for seventh in the 2023 edition.