A few days after his behavior at the US opened in 2025, aroused controversy, Rory McILroy explained that he left everything in the past – but not before a little indulgence.
McILroy, 36, spoke with journalists on Wednesday, June 18, before this week’s traveler championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, where he expressed his decompression method after his last round at the US Open on Sunday, June 15.
“I certainly like to relax and have a glass of wine on a Sunday evening,” said McILroy. “I wouldn’t say it’s the best recovery method.”
McILroy finished tied for 19th place at the Oakmont Country Club during the weekend, a tournament that saw him crush a TEE marker, launching a golf club on the fairway and regularly avoid talking to the media.
“I think everyone has their own way of getting out of an exhausting week,” said Mcilroy. “I think that these are only the small habits that you take along the way, whether physical or whether it is mental or whether by moving away and giving you a little time to recharge.”
He added: “But yes, I think it is important to take care of yourself physically and mentally. Especially when you play these major events and there is a lot of pressure and waiting. It is important to move away from all this too.”
In the middle of a calendar in charge of the PGA Tour, McILroy said he is trying to “put” the right mindset from Monday.
“I give myself that day,” he said. “I think the Mondays between tournaments are very important as reset.”
McILroy is part of a stacked field in the Travelers championship, which includes US Open Champion 2025 JJ SPAUN,, Scottie Scheffler,, Collin Morikawa And Xander Schauffele.
After his last round at the US Open, McILroy admitted that he had trouble finding motivation after winning his first master championship in April, which makes him the sixth golfer of history to win the big career home.
“Listen, I climbed my Everest in April, and I think that after doing something like that, you have to come back, and you have to look for another mountain to climb,” said McILroy.
While he granted journalists time to the US Open Sunday, McILroy decided to withdraw from talking to them several times throughout the week. His reluctance has attracted the anger of many to the golf world, including the legend of Irish golf Paul McGinley.
“I don’t like to see this,” said McGinley, 58, on Saturday June 14, according to Golf.com. “I think Rory is better than that. Be not talking to the media or not giving a press conference as it is not served fairly or rightly for the person he is.”
McGinley added: “He seems to have enough of everything. Whether it was the emotional release of everything that took place in his career, I don’t know. But he is not himself. It is not normal.”
