McIlroy On U.S. Open: 'I Didn't Care' About Making Cut At Oakmont

Rory McIlroy has defended his choice to skip interviews after rounds at the U.S. Open, stating he wasn't concerned about making the cut at Oakmont. He mentioned that his grand slam victory at the Masters in April gave him the freedom to make such decisions. McIlroy avoided media interactions during all four rounds of the PGA Championship and continued this approach in Pennsylvania.

During the weekend, McIlroy struggled with his performance, starting nine shots behind the leader and finishing with a four-over-par 74, leaving him at 10 over. This marked three consecutive rounds over par in a major since 2012. He explained that issues with his driver at the PGA Championship contributed to his decision to avoid media engagements.

"That [the driver issue at the PGA Championship] was a part of it [not doing media]," McIlroy told reporters. "At Augusta, I skipped you guys on Thursday, so yeah, again, it's not out of the ordinary. I've done it before - I'm just doing it a little more often."

When asked about his stance on media interactions, McIlroy said he felt entitled to make his own choices without provoking any action from the PGA Tour. He expressed hope that this freedom remains unchanged as it is a luxury for players. "I'm just pointing out the fact that we have the ability to do it," he added.

The 36-year-old golfer admitted finding motivation challenging after achieving grand slam success. His recent performances included a tied-47th finish at the PGA Championship and missing the cut at the Canadian Open due to ongoing struggles with his driver.

Performance Reflections and Future Plans

McIlroy narrowly avoided an early exit from the U.S. Open after two double bogeys in his first three holes on Friday but managed two late birdies to stay in contention. Reflecting on his mindset, he noted how being indifferent about making cuts can sometimes lead to better play.

"I alluded to it in my pre-tournament press conference, you don't really know how it's going to affect you," he said. "You don't know how you're going to react to something that I've dreamt about for a long time."

When asked about his hopes for concluding his U.S. Open campaign, McIlroy humorously remarked: "Hopefully a round in under four and a half hours and get out of here."