Rory McIlroy clashed with reporters and frequently showed his temper on the course during an eventful week at Oakmont for the U.S. Open, finishing on seven-over-par for the tournament
Tom Blow Deputy Sports Editor
18:46 ET, 15 Jun 2025
Paige Spiranac has made her feelings clear(Image: Getty Images)
Paige Spiranac has risked a backlash on social media by showing her support for Rory McIlroy following his U.S. Open meltdown.
McIlroy had a tournament to forget at Oakmont. While he finished the event strongly by carding a final round 67, the Masters champion threw multiple clubs and smashed a tee box during the week. He also hit out at the press in a remarkable rant on Saturday.
McIlroy is now facing calls to take a break from golf, having struggled for form since completing the career Grand Slam at Augusta two months ago. He’s also faced criticism for his actions both on and off the course, especially after his “earned the right” remark.
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The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland refused to speak to the media after all four rounds of last month’s PGA Championship, and he ignored reporters again for the first two rounds of the U.S. Open. Yet social media star Spiranac doesn’t agree with the criticism of McIlroy.
“Might be an unpopular opinion here, but he doesn’t have to talk to the media if he doesn’t want to,” wrote Spiranac. “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.”
When one fan told Spiranac that McIlroy should speak to the media to help grow the game, just like Jack Nicklaus and other legends did in their day, she replied: “Different era. Much harder for celebrities and athletes now with social media. People love to pile on for clicks.”
Rory McIlroy struggled at the U.S. Open(Image: Getty Images)
Another fan complained about McIlroy’s handling of himself, to which Spiranac replied: “He’s been in the public eye for a majority of his life. Most people don’t understand the pressure he’s under or how hard mentally it is to have everything you do be under a microscope. Everyone has a breaking point.”
And when a third fan mentioned how much money golfers like McIlroy make, Spiranac argued: “Easy to say when you’re not living it. I don’t think most people could handle the pressure or scrutiny most top pro athletes are under.”
McIlroy hit the headlines for his post-round comments on Saturday. When asked if his “frustration on the golf course” is his reason for avoiding the press, he replied: “No, not really. It’s more a frustration with you guys.”
He added: “I’m just, yeah, I don’t know. I have, I’ve been totally available for the last few years, and I’m not saying — maybe not you guys, but maybe more just the whole thing.”
McIlroy was then asked if his spat with the media had anything to do with the news of his driver failing a test at the PGA Championship being published. He replied: “Yeah, part of — I mean, that was a part of it. Yeah, that was a part of it.
“But it’s not as if — like at Augusta I skipped you guys on Thursday, so yeah, again, it’s not if as if — it’s not out of the ordinary. I’ve done it before; I’m just doing it a little more often.”
The five-time major winner was then asked if he’s “earned the right” to walk away from media requests. He replied: “I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do, yeah.”
McIlroy seemed much happier on Sunday, agreeing to talk to NBC and conduct a post-round interview. He revealed his desire to win The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland next month, a rare opportunity for him to win a major in his homeland.
“I climbed my Everest in April, and I think after you do something like that, you’ve got to make your way back down, and you’ve got to look for another mountain to climb,” said McIlroy on Sunday. “An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those.”
