Rory McIlroy has experienced a difficult start to his attempt at winning The PGA Championship.
McIlroy opened up with a really poor round of three-over-par 74 at Quail Hollow, but he bounced back with a two-under-par 69 on day two to keep himself in the race to win the PGA Championship.
However, the Northern Irishman’s week certainly hasn’t passed without controversy.
McIlroy was forced to change drivers before the start of the PGA Championship, after his club was deemed to be non-conforming by the USGA.
Despite the fact that his backup would have been nigh-on identical to his original one, two clubs are never exactly the same.
It has since emerged that McIlroy did nothing wrong and would have been unaware that his driver was non-conforming to the standards laid out by the USGA.
Something has seemed off with The Masters champion all week if truth be told.
And his behaviour at Quail Hollow has been somewhat out of character.
Something’s not right with Rory McIlroy at the PGA Championship
McIlroy is actually quite a divisive figure amongst golf fans.
Sure, he is hugely popular but at the same time, he has plenty of detractors.
Some feel that McIlroy is a breath of fresh air for the game with his explosive driving and prodigious all-round talent.
However, there are those who believe that he comes across aloof at times, and I can certainly see both sides of the argument.
There is a really fair argument to be made that McIlroy has let himself, and golf fans, down with what he has done this week in Charlotte, North Carolina.
First off, McIlroy came across as somewhat agitated during his press conference in the build-up to the PGA Championship.
When asked what part of his game he would trade with some of his rivals, McIlroy offered up a rather unnecessarily antsy response.
He said, “I wouldn’t trade.“
The journalist then asked McIlroy what about if he was forced to.
“But I’m not“, the Northern Irishman said.
The journalist said, “If I asked you what part of the game you admired in somebody else, who’s somebody you admire putting, for instance?“
“I’m focused on my game.“
He was completely unlike his usual, bubbly self. Perhaps that was because he had just been given the bad news about his driver being ruled to be non-conforming, who knows?
However, his behaviour since then has deteriorated even more so.
What Rory McIlroy did at the PGA Championship is not a good look
McIlroy has ignored his obligations to speak to the media after his first two rounds at Quail Hollow this week.
That was really poor from the five-time major champion.
It’s worth remembering that he conducted numerous interviews after winning The Masters, so why couldn’t he speak to the press after a few tough days on the course?
In fact, it’s a lot more interesting to hear the best golfers in the world speak after they have played poorly, than when they have shot the lights out.
That is especially true for the younger generation of fans who idolise players like McIlroy.
McIlroy has to do better through the bad times as well as the good, it is as simple as that.
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