Paige Spiranac has opened up on Rory McIlroy’s behaviour at the weekend’s U.S. Open – as the Northern Irishman wore his emotions on his sleeve through testing conditions at Oakmont Country Club
Paige Spiranac has opened up on Rory McIlroy’s frustrations at the U.S. Open(Image: Getty Images)
Paige Spiranac was quick to rush to Rory McIlroy’s defence as the PGA Tour pro vented his frustrations at the U.S. Open.
The 36-year-old was among a struggling 156-player field for the third major of the year, as he failed to navigate the fast fairways and bumpy greens of Oakmont Country Club – ultimately settling for a T19 finish alongside Emiliano Grillo, Ryan Fox and Victor Perez. McIlroy seemingly allowed his emotions to get the better of him during Friday’s round, as he was spotted smashing up a tee-box marker after a wayward drive off the 17th hole.
Elsewhere, he was also spotted throwing his wedge in disgust – only for it to bounce back off his bag and come spiralling back towards him. Thankfully, the Northern Irishman was able to catch the club in his other hand to avoid adding insult to injury.
And while many fans took issue with McIlroy’s behaviour at Oakmont over the weekend, Spiranac took to X to defend him for his acts of passion – while also explaining how impressed she was at him catching his rebounding club after tossing it. Sharing a video of the incident, the 32-year-old wrote: “I’m sure people are going to be mad at him for throwing a club but 1. We’ve all been there and have thrown a golf club 2. This was sick.”
However, many others took to the comments section of the social media influencer’s post to disagree with Spiranac’s synopsis. one wrote: “Actually I have never thrown a club in disgust or anger.
“The one thing you can control is your emotions and your response to life’s challenges. In every profession there are going to be good and bad times and it is how you handle each that defines your character.”
Meanwhile, another added: “Haha even his clubs have had enough of him being a baby,” while a third replied: “He’s lucky he didn’t hit himself in the face. Throwing clubs makes him a danger to anyone around him, and marks him as a complete a–hole.”
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It comes as Spiranac also took to social media to defend McIlroy’s choice not to speak to the media after his first two disappointing rounds at the major. She wrote: “Might be an unpopular opinion here, but he doesn’t have to talk to the media if he doesn’t want to.
“It’s not required. And why would he, when everyone is always analyzing and criticizing his every move. There is clearly something more going on (that) none of us are privy to, so maybe let’s not all pile on.”
It’s not the first time that McIlroy has snubbed media duties as of late, with McIlroy also refusing to interact with journalists after the PGA Championship – where he finished a lowly T47. The Holywood-born star wasn’t the only player who struggled at Oakmont last week however, as his playing partners for Thursday and Friday in Justin Rose and Shane Lowry failed to even make the cut.
Rory McIlroy struggled at Oakmont(Image: AP)
Rose bowed out with an overall score of 14-over on Friday, while Lowry registered a forgettable 17-over at the same stage. Elsewhere, 2024 champion Bryson DeChambeau, PGA stalwart Justin Thomas and fan favourite Wyndham Clark all failed to make it to weekend play.
Evidencing how tough conditions were for some of the world’s greatest golfers, J.J. Spaun won the title with an unusual score of just one-under par on Sunday to clinch the first major title of his career. Speaking to media after his win, he said: “I never thought I would be here holding this trophy.
“I’ve always had aspirations and dreams but a few months ago I didn’t know what my ceiling was and how good I could be, but I am just proud. I have been resilient in my career and pushed through a lot of things and tried to be the best golfer I could be.
“I was happy to display that today at Oakmont. It was a dream weekend scenario on Father’s Day, to have my two kids here is awesome and a cherry on top of a wonderful weekend.”
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