Rory McIlroy enjoyed a fabulous year on the PGA Tour in 2025 but he did go through a really difficult period as well.
However, it has to be said that a lot of McIlroy‘s problems were entirely of his own making during the 2025 PGA Tour season.
The Northern Irishman’s year got off to a truly sensational start, with wins coming at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Players Championship and, of course, The Masters.
McIlroy’s incredible win at the The Masters saw him become only the sixth golfer in the history of the game to complete the career Grand Slam.
After his heroics at Augusta National, the 36-year-old struggled to rediscover his best form.
McIlroy admitted he struggled with motivation after his Masters win, and the following few months were very tricky indeed for him.
It must be said that the five-time major champion finished off his season in style with a win at the Irish Open and his incredible performance for Europe during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black last week.
However, due to his actions in the middle part of the season, the PGA Tour should make a rule change heading into 2026.
Rory McIlroy’s 2025 season was a real rollercoaster
The 29-time PGA Tour winner will be delighted with his 2025 season when he takes the time to look back on it.
However, there were a few instances when he clearly wasn’t himself.
McIlroy’s problems all started in May just before the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
On the Tuesday before the tournament began, McIlroy’s driver was deemed to be non-conforming and that set off a chain reaction of unfortunate events.
He was said to be extremely angry that his name got leaked to the press while other golfers’ names were kept anonymous, Scottie Scheffler included.
As a result, McIlroy refused to speak to the media for six consecutive major champions rounds. He broke his silence after round three of the US Open at Oakmont in June but even then, he was extremely frosty with reporters.
“It’s just frustration with you guys [some sections of the media],” the Northern Irishman said in his first post-round interview at a major since winning the Masters at Augusta in April.
“I have been totally available for the past number of years,” McIlroy added. “That [driver issue] was a part of it but at Augusta I skipped you guys on Thursday. It’s not out of the ordinary as I’ve done it before, but I am doing it a little more often. I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do.“
Back in June, Brandel Chamblee criticized McIlroy for his failure to speak to the media, and now the PGA Tour need to take action.
The PGA Tour must bring in new rule after Rory McIlroy’s behavior
Brian Rolapp and his fellow higher ups need to implement a new rule whereby PGA Tour players must speak to the press at least two times during a tournament week, illness or injury permitting of course.
The best players in the world owe it to their fans, and indeed their sponsors, to provide information pertaining to the rounds they have just played.
There is also the issue of them needing to set an example to their young fans, especially the younger generation.
What message does it send to easily influenced children when they see their heroes having a bad day and deciding that they don’t want to face up to things as a result?
That’s not how the real world works.
The PGA Tour have a duty of care to change things after Rory McIlroy’s actions during a two-month period in 2025.
If they want to keep attracting new fans to the sport, they absolutely must guarantee the fact that they can offer an insight into the players’ thinking both before and after their rounds.
In every other sport, players are contractually obligated to speak to reporters before and after they’ve played.
It may be slightly different in golf because all of the players are independent contractors, but something has to change.
More assured access to the best players in the world would be a really positive move ahead of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
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