Several high-profile golfers have opted not to speak to the media during recent tournaments. But Rory McIlroy’s decision to do so is particularly “concerning” for the PGA Tour, according to Golf Channel reporter Rex Hoggard.
McIlroy has received significant criticism from fans for opting to skip conversations with the media after all four rounds of the PGA Championship last month, a decision that he ironically defended during a discussion with reporters ahead of this week’s RBC Canadian Open.
“From a responsibility standpoint, look, I understand, but if we all wanted to, we could all bypass you guys, and we could just go on this, and we could go on social media, and we could talk about our round and do it our own way,” McIlroy told the press at the RBC Canadian Open on Wednesday. “We understand that that’s not ideal for you guys, and there’s a bigger dynamic at play here, and I talk to you guys, and I talk to the media a lot.
“I think there should be an understanding that this is a two-way street, and as much as we need to speak to you guys, we’re sort of… We understand the benefit that comes from you being here and giving us the platform and everything else. So I understand that. But again, I’ve been beating this drum for a long time. If they want to make it mandatory, that’s fine, but in our rules, it says that it’s not, and until the day that that’s maybe written into the regulations, you’re going to have guys skip from time to time, and that’s well within our rights.”
McIlroy’s comments and the overall sentiment of one of the biggest stars in golf taking this approach to the media were discussed on Wednesday’s edition of the Golf Channel Podcast hosted by Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner.
Hoggard, in particular, shared his perspective on the matter, explaining how he has learned in conversations with the PGA Tour that the tour has “concerns” with McIlroy’s propensity not to speak with the media.
“Until there is something concrete, until there is something mandatory in the PGA Tour regulations, Rory said this is just going to be the way of life on the PGA Tour in the media,” said Lavner.
“Certainly, this is something that Rory has thought about,” replied Hoggard. “Certainly, this is something that the PGA Tour has thought about. And I can say, in conversations with the tour since this happened, I tend to be in agreement with those in the communications department that have the same concerns as you and I in the media have. When you have a player of Rory McIlroy’s stature that skips all four days, it’s not great.
“But the bigger issue here is that it sets a standard for every other player on the PGA Tour. The other 155 players at Quail Hollow were looking and saying to themselves… ‘Well, if that guy isn’t going to do it, why in the world would I talk to the media after a round?’ That is disturbing; that’s concerning for all of us in the media. The flip side of that would be what you are alluding to. The idea that maybe, like most sports, maybe the PGA Tour should have a policy that demands players should have media availability after each round.”
While the PGA Tour appears to be concerned about McIlroy’s stance, it also doesn’t seem eager to make media availability a requirement, which both Hoggard and the tour believe would ultimately create even more resentment among the players.
“I tend to agree with some of the folks at the PGA Tour who I have discussed this with,” added Hoggard. “That would be counterproductive. Because what you may end up with in that situation is even more animosity, which is propped up on the Colin Morikawa issue. You could end up with a Marshawn Lynch situation, where now you have players who will sit in front of the camera and either not say anything at all or babble nonsense, like he did back in the day, to avoid fines. I don’t think that’s productive at all.”
We’ll see how McIlroy approaches the media at the U.S. Open, which begins next week. But notably, he did speak with the media after a disappointing missed cut at the RBC Canadian Open this week.