Rory McIlroy: I am ready to play US PGA despite divorce

Rory McIlroy vowed “I am ready to play this week” at Valhalla but declined to talk about his private life in his first press conference since his divorce was announced.

‌Journalists were asked to respect McIlroy’s decision not to answer questions about his split with Erica, his wife of seven years and mother of his three-year-old daughter Poppy, and in an awkward Q&A which only lasted 9mins 20 secs he emerged without discussing the shock news.

‌Only seven questions were allowed from reporters, with three going to rights-holders who quizzed him about the current state of his game and confidence levels as he goes into the US PGA Championship at the course where he won the most recent of his four major titles, 10 years ago.

‌Only one question went near the issue. “It’s been quite a few years for you,” an American golf writer asked. “How are your energy levels, and just on a personal level, how are you doing?” McIlroy refused to say, other than to indicate that the upheaval will not deter him from his aim of building on two wins in his last two performances to at last win a fifth major.

‌In any other situation, it would be almost inconceivable that when he returned to this layout in such encouraging form his management team would demand that the pre-tournament media session would be limited to a maximum of 10 minutes.

‌McIlroy, perhaps the most honest talker in the professional game, regularly speaks in these type of conferences for up to half and hour. Perhaps, that is an indication of his angst and understandably so.

‌While he remained tightlipped on that subject, he was, as ever, outspoken on the ongoing LIV saga and, in particular, Monday’s resignation of Jimmy Dunne from the PGA Tour’s policy board.

‌Dunne was the architect of the PGA Tour’s “framework agreement” with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, but quit his position as an executive saying that player power on the board has made his role “utterly superfluous” and that there had been “no meaningful progress” in the negotiations with the LIV backers.

‌While Tiger Woods batted away the exit earlier in the week, McIlroy expressed his fears that Dunne’s departure makes the prospects of a “no deal” scenario even more likely. Dunne is a huge ally of ‌McIlroy’s and like the Northern Irishman believes the only way for peace and to stop LIV signing more of the Tour’s top players is to strike a deal.

‌“Honestly I think it’s a huge loss for the PGA Tour, if they are trying to get this deal done with the PIF and trying to unify the game,” McIlroy said. “Jimmy was basically “the” relationship, the sort of conduit between the PGA Tour and PIF.

‌“I would say my confidence level on something getting done before last week was, as low as it had been but then with this news of Jimmy resigning and knowing the relationship he has with the other side, and how much warmth there is from the other side… well, it’s concerning.”

‌McIlroy’s strength of feeling about the sports’ Civil War can be revealed by the fact that as the break-up was occurring at home in South Florida, he was prepared to put up his hand and rejoin the policy board.

‌However, a faction of player directors including Woods, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth expressed their unease at McIlroy being reappointed after he resigned late last year and the move was scuppered.

‌“It’s been really unfortunate that Jimmy has not been involved [in the negotiations] for the last few months, and I think that’s part of the reason that everything is stalling at the minute,” McIlroy said. “So it’s really, really disappointing and I think the Tour is in a worse place because of it. We’ll see where it goes from here.”

‌Where McIlroy goes is to the 10th tee on Thursday morning where he begins his mission to recreate his Valhalla glory of Augusta, 2014. However, world No 1 Scottie Scheffler is the obvious favourite, after winning four and finishing second in his last five tournaments.

‌The Masters champion has the game for this Jack Nicklaus design and despite defending champion Brooks Koepka looking back to his imposing self and McIlroy’s ability somehow to play his best when there

06:19 PM BST

‘8mins 51secs’

He did 8mins 51secs. Not 10 mins. The invigilator was determined to assist McIlroy. That’s his job I suppose.

06:17 PM BST

An we’re done...

...a quick appearance from Rory. It was made very clear that no questions would be fielded about his personal life and that is how things transpired.

06:15 PM BST

Short response

Asked how his energy levels are and how is doing on a personal level, McIlroy simply responds: “I’m ready to play this week.”

06:12 PM BST

‘It’s concerning’

McIlroy says his confidence in a deal getting done between the PGA Tour and the PIF is at a low ebb after the resignation of key PGA Tour member Jimmy Dunne.

“I think it’s a huge loss for the Tour if they’re trying to get this deal done with the PIF and trying to unify the game. It’s really, really disappointing. I think the tour is in a worse place because of it.

“I would say my confidence level on something getting done before last week was as low at it had been. And then with this news with Jimmy resigning and knowing the relationship he has with the other side and how much warmth there is from the other side, it’s concerning.”

06:11 PM BST

On rekindling memories of his last win at Valhalla

‘Sometimes I struggle to remember what I did yesterday. When I look back it’s hard to rekindle those memories and feelings. For me, it’s all about confidence and momentum, it’s all about trying to keep that going.’

06:08 PM BST

‘Game feels good’

Rory highlights a couple of changes at Valhalla before speaking about how good his game feels at present.

06:07 PM BST

Announcement at the start...

...McIlroy will not be answering any questions about his private life, in tune with a press release yesterday.

06:06 PM BST

Here’s Rory...

...stay tuned for updates.

06:05 PM BST

More from Kentucky

A Vegas bookmaker has issued odds on the identity of McIlroy’s next girlfriend. Not good.

05:58 PM BST

McIlroy due shortly...

...with await with bated breath.

05:44 PM BST

Our man in Kentucky

McIlroy will likely, and understandably, say he is not answering questions about his private life. But he will face queries about how this upheaval will affect his challenge here for his first major title in 10 years.

05:42 PM BST

Rory on course

Whatever may be going on off the course, it’s tough to argue how good a place McIlroy’s game is in right now. His last round at Quail Hollow last week was the work of a master and his swing is looking pretty good during practice rounds at Valhalla...

05:37 PM BST

‘Punishment workouts’

05:33 PM BST

Kopeka exits stage left

McIlroy is next up, we are expecting him around 6pm UK time but as ever with press conferences he could arrive earlier or later than that.

We will, of course, keep you updated.

05:32 PM BST

‘I just like majors’

Koepka is asked why he seems to have a predeliction for the US PGA specifically – a tournament he has won three times.

“No idea man, I just like majors,” he responds.

05:27 PM BST

First and second round tee times

While we wait for McIlroy to appear, have a glance at the tee times for the first two rounds of the US PGA. Some marquee groups include:

• Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose

• Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley

• Brooks Koepka, Max Homa, Jordan Spieth

• Ludvig Åberg, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas

05:25 PM BST

Brook Koepka currently speaking to the media

Discussing his ‘punisher workouts’ that his team put him through after every poor result. High-tempo running is about as much colour as we’re given but you’d have to imagine they’re tough if the name is anything to go by.

05:22 PM BST

McIlroy to speak to media

Rory Mcilroy appears in from the cameras at Valhalla shortly ahead of this week’s US PGA in which, on recent form at least, he holds a serious chance of breaking a decade-long major drought that began after winning this tournament, at this course in 2014.

His win at Quail Hollow last week showcased the Northern Irishman at his very best on the golf course yet questions this afternoon are unlikely to focus on golfing matters – at least not alone.

On Monday, McIlroy filed for divorce from his wife of seven years Erica Stoll, with whom he shares a three-year-old daughter, Poppy. In isolation, this incident matters little beyond those actually affected by the relationship’s breakdown.

However, for the news to break in the same week as the second major of the season means McIlroy will surely be anticipating questions about his personal life. Whether he answers them, or indeed to what extent he answers them, remains to be seen.

Interest in this situation is piqued in large part by what happened in the months after McIlroy’s relationship with Caroline Wozniaki broke down in May 2014. After McIlroy abruptly broke off his engagement to the Danish tennis star, he proceeded to go on one of the best runs of his career, with victory at WGC-Bridgestone Invitational sandwiched between his third and fourth major wins.

First came The Open at Royal Liverpool, where he led from pillar to post, eventually holding off charges from Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia in the final round to win by two strokes. A mere three weeks later, after victory at Firestone, McIlroy beat Phil Mickelson by a shot to lift the Wanamaker Trophy.

Only McIlroy knows exactly what fueled that remarkable run of form but it is easy to draw a connection between the timing of the breakdown of his relationship with Wozniaki and sudden leap in form on the course.

He is expected in front of the cameras at 6pm UK time.

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