**Rory McIlroy Clarifies Silence at PGA Championship Amid Driver Controversy**

Rory McIlroy defended his decision to abstain from media engagements after each round at the PGA Championship, attributing it to frustration over his driver being leaked as nonconforming prior to the event. McIlroy, who holds the accolade of completing a career Grand Slam after winning the Masters, tied for 47th at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, last month and opted out of media interviews throughout the tournament.

During the championship, it was reported by SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio that McIlroy's driver had failed to meet standards in pre-tournament evaluations conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA). The PGA of America later confirmed that the USGA tested about 50 players' drivers, intending for the results to stay confidential.

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler faced a similar situation, with his own driver being ruled nonconforming before he secured his third major title with a five-stroke lead at Quail Hollow. “I was annoyed that Scottie’s driver also failed, but only my name was leaked,” McIlroy said, expressing his discontent about the breach of confidentiality.

McIlroy elaborated that he wanted to protect various parties involved, including Scottie Scheffler, TaylorMade, the USGA, the PGA of America, and himself, and thus refrained from making hasty comments. Scheffler himself mentioned discarding his driver post-tournament, acknowledging it was worn out after over a year's use.

McIlroy labeled the PGA Championship as "a weird week," having performed poorly in the initial round and facing multiple delays, including weather-related interruptions impacting his third-round tee time. The cascade of events left him physically and emotionally drained, leading him to avoid media interactions.

This season, media accessibility has been a contentious issue on the PGA Tour, with other golfers like Collin Morikawa and Shane Lowry also opting out of post-round interviews under stressful circumstances. McIlroy conveyed his understanding of media responsibilities but emphasized the current non-mandatory nature of media interaction under PGA Tour guidelines, calling for mutual respect and consideration between golfers and the media.