Rory McIlroy snubs media duties for second (!) major in a row

Rory McIlroy has cancelled his pre-tournament news conference ahead of The Open Championship. 

For the second major championship in a row McIlroy, 34, has decided not to talk to the media. 

No reason was given for McIlroy's decision at Royal Liverpool, but the R&A released a statement which read:

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The four-time major winner also skipped media duties before the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. 

Although that was off the back of the PGA Tour announcing a deal with LIV Golf's backers, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. 

That news, understandably, came as a shock to McIlroy as he had spent more than a year defending the PGA Tour and criticising the rival league. 

Alongside Tiger Woods, the duo had established themselves as the biggest supporters of the North American circuit. 

The heavily scrutinised 'framework agreement' led to McIlroy complaining he felt like a 'sacrificial lamb'. 

Documents released as part of a US Senate hearing into the agreement revealed McIlroy and Woods were both to be offered LIV Golf teams.

Who wins The Open Championship?

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) July 17, 2023

Woods has not commented on that but McIlroy has, saying that he would retire if there was nowhere else to play professional golf. 

After he made a flying start to the Scottish Open, a tournament he went on to win, McIlroy ripped into LIV once again by saying:

The LIV Golf drama has seen some of McIlroy's close relationships deteriorate. He was involved in a bit of a spat with Sergio Garcia, but is now back on speaking terms with the Spaniard. 

The Spaniard said he wished it 'hadn't taken so long' for the pair to reconnect. 

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