Rory McIlroy Sends Clear Message on Backlash Ahead of RBC Canadian Open originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The RBC Canadian Open is officially underway at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, beginning June 5 and drawing the golf world’s attention in the lead-up to the U.S. Open. With a rich history of over 100 years and a $9.8 million prize purse, this year’s tournament marks the debut of the newly renovated North Course. Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre returns as defending champion, but much of the spotlight is on Rory McIlroy.
Back in action after skipping last week’s Memorial Tournament, McIlroy enters the Canadian Open as a two-time champion. However, recent headlines haven’t been about his play instead, they’ve centered on his media silence during the PGA Championship.
The Northern Irishman skipped post-round interviews all four days, triggering criticism. Speaking ahead of the tournament in Toronto, McIlroy addressed the issue directly.
“The PGA was a bit of a weird week,” McIlroy explained per The Mirror. “I didn’t play well the first day, so I wanted to go practice… Second day we finished late. I wanted to go back and see Poppy [his daughter] before she went to bed.” He continued, “The driver news broke. I didn’t really want to speak on that.”
McIlroy also cited exhaustion and scheduling delays as factors, admitting, “Some days you just don’t feel like talking.”
Rory McIlroy on his decision to skip media after all 4 rounds of the PGA Championship: “Some days you just don’t feel like talking.”
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) June 4, 2025
Now teeing off at 7:40 AM ET on Thursday alongside Ludvig Åberg and Luke Clanton, McIlroy is back on familiar ground. A win this week would mark his third Canadian Open title and a major boost ahead of Oakmont. His message was clear that sometimes, personal priorities take precedence, and he’s now ready to shift focus back to golf.
Related: Multiple Golfers Advance to U.S. Open From Canadian Qualifier
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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