Overview

• McIlroy answered questions after a six-under opening round at the Travelers Championship, quipping that reporters should just 'report the birdies and bogeys.'
• He acknowledged the necessity of golf media as a platform even as he asserts his right to pick when he engages with the press.
• The four-time major champion sat out all post-round interviews at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open after a leak revealed his driver failed conformity tests.
• Public reaction has been divided, with figures like Paige Spiranac defending his media breaks while pundits such as Scott Van Pelt and Brandel Chamblee warn of potential fallout.
• McIlroy’s bogey-free start in Connecticut signals a renewed focus on his game following uneven showings since completing the career Grand Slam.