Rory McIlroy refuses to answer questions about his divorce from wife Erica Stoll as he faces the media for the first time since announcement
Rory McIlroy sat behind a microphone at Valhalla on Wednesday and spared just six words to address the curiosities that have accompanied his presence at the US PGA Championship.
Naturally, the elephant in the tent was a subject that is simultaneously no one else’s business and also quite relevant in a sport where state of mind is worth more than any club in the bag.
For 24 hours, the detail that had crept out via court papers on Tuesday, which is to say McIlroy’s divorce from his wife of seven years, has provoked the question of whether personal turmoil will impact on a professional mission to win his first major in 10 years.
Spotting the subtext a mile off, all McIlroy would only say: ‘I’m ready to play this week.’ Before long he left, having sat for a total of seven questions spanning eight minutes.
The proof of his sentiment will come in instalments from Thursday, when he tees off for his first round at 8.15am local time.
Already there is the suspicion that for all the noise in his name and the trauma at home, McIlroy is finding serenity and speed on the course.
In winning his second title in two starts at the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday, he delivered a final round that offered reminders of the killer instinct that was once a more regular sight.
With his driver in particular he has been immense since an underwhelming performance at the Masters and a sweet spot has been found in his wedge game too, opening the possibility of a battle royale with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler.
