Rory McIlroy stares down reporter after 'other things going on' question

A reporter once again teased Rory McIlroy with a question about his private life after the opening round of the 2024 US PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Ben Smith

16 May 2024

A reporter once again attempted to get Rory McIlroy to indulge a question about his private life after the Northern Irishman made a hot start to the 2024 US PGA Championship.

McIlroy started on the back nine at Valhalla Golf Club and raced out of the blocks by taking advantage of the par-5 10th.

His first bogey of the day came at the par-4 17th after he visited the bunker twice and he threatened to do more damage to his score card at the next hole when he found the water with his tee shot.

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McIlroy managed an otherworldly par save after taking his medicine, though. He hacked a 7-iron back into play before getting up-and-down from 114 yards.

On his back nine, McIlroy was faultless and notched four more birdies for a 5-under 66 to trail the early leader Xander Schauffele by four.

Of course, McIlroy is playing in his first event since it was confirmed he has filed for divorce from his wife Erica after their marriage became 'irretrievably broken'.

McIlroy, unsurprisingly, has not wanted to indulge any questions about his private life.

Yet it did not stop a reporter asking McIlroy after the opening round: "Was it nice to be inside the ropes and just to concentrate on golf? Obviously [with the] other things going on this week..."

McIlroy said matter-of-factly: "It's always nice to be inside the ropes."

Another scribe asked if the four-time major champ will rely on 'compartmentalizing' this week of all weeks.

"Happy to be here," came the response.

Speaking more generally about his round, McIlroy said he felt he played 'pretty scrappy for the most part'.

That being said, he did not believe he left many strokes out there.

"I thought I got a lot out of my game today," he said.

"Some good up-and-downs, [then I had] the chip-in on six.

"I had a little bit of a scrappy part around the turn there, but overall [I am] really happy with -- not really happy with how I played but at least happy with the score."

McIlroy visited Butch Harmon before the 2024 Masters to help eliminate a left miss that had developed with his irons.

Despite not paying dividends at Augusta National, McIlroy said he is now starting to see the fruits of their labour.

Going into the weekend, McIlroy said he believes the greens will firm up.

But the scoring will still be pretty low, he said.

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