Remember that ton of drama a single Collin Morikawa comment created just a month ago? Then, the star golfer had just lost his first chance of a win in two years at the Arnold Palmer Invitational against Russell Henley. He was upset, as any of us would be, and, at first, burst out of the course and refused to speak to the media after the game. He finally spoke at The PLAYERS, and he said those infamous words: “[I don’t] owe anyone anything.” But someone has come to his defense.

Rory McIlroy is currently active at Augusta National for the upcoming Masters Tournament, and he was recently seen at the Masters press conference. So the interviewer mentioned two incidents, one of Morikawa and another of McIlroy, and asked: “The conversation after something like that in comparison to other professional athletes, golfers can be a little more sensitive. I’m wondering if you think that’s a fair or unfair assessment.” 

Rory McIlroy decided to stand by his fellow Tour golfer. He answered, “Well, he’s right. Not that I think he could have worded it a little bit better, but look, every other athlete, whether it be in the NBA, NFL, they’re obligated to speak to you guys after a game. We’re not. Whether that’s something that the PGA TOUR looks to in terms of putting that into their rules and regulations, but as long as that’s not the case and we have that option to opt out whenever we want, expect guys to do that from time to time.” 

McIlroy isn’t wrong, however. For instance, in the NFL, players must speak to the media for 10-15 minutes after games. Marshawn Lynch once ignored this rule and was fined $1.2 million. During the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX, he infamously responded to every question with, “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.” Cruel? Indeed it is. However, the Tour doesn’t mandate this for its players. While it makes sense to give the players space to let out the stream, it also means they can ignore the questions they don’t want to answer. We don’t know what will happen later; however, take a look at why this question was posed to Rory McIlroy.

Something similar happened during the 2024 U.S. Open incident with Rory McIlroy. Then, the golfer had just lost his chance at his fifth major win against LIV golfer, Bryson DeChambeau. Angry, he burst out of the course and refused to talk to anyone. Will it happen again at this Masters? We can only wait and watch. However, this McIlroy comment will likely start a new debate in the media. But McIlroy is more concerned about something else.

Rory McIlroy is trying to block out “noises” ahead of the Masters

“It’s just narratives,” McIlroy began at the press conference at Augusta National. “It’s noise. It’s trying to block out that noise as much as possible. I need to treat this tournament like all the other tournaments that I play throughout the year. Look, I understand the narrative and the noise, and there’s a lot of anticipation and buildup coming into this tournament each and every year, but I just have to keep my head down and focus on my job,” Rory McIlroy added. However, the attention on Rory McIlroy makes sense. He is, arguably, in one of his best forms, having scored two wins before the Masters Tournament. It is something that he has done for the first time in his career. Besides that, if McIlroy manages to continue his strong performance at Augusta National, he will be able to achieve something that no golfer swinging at the 2025 Masters can compete against: achieving his career Grand Slam.

The four-time major champion would become one of only five golfers, alongside Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen, to win the Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and Open Championship. But that’s also one of his greatest concerns: McIlroy hasn’t won a single major since his 2014 attempt. He last won a major at the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, and has since gone 0-for-38 in the major tournaments.

Rory McIlroy has come close to completing the career Grand Slam, recording 21 top-10 finishes in majors since 2015, which is four more than any other golfer during that period. Will he win? Well, we can at least hope he does!