Rory McIlroy defended his decision to skip post-round interviews again during the U.S. Open, adding he "didn't really care" if he made the cut at Oakmont. 

McIlroy also said he had "earned the right to do whatever" after his grand slam success at the Masters in April. 

The world number two declined the media for all four rounds of the PGA Championship, while also avoiding post-round interviews after the first two days in Pennsylvania. 

McIlroy stuttered into the weekend on six over after rounds of 74 and 72, and continued to struggle on Saturday as he fell further off the pace. 

He started the day nine shots off the lead and carded a four-over-par 74 that left him at 10 over.

Indeed, his Saturday effort saw him score over par for three consecutive rounds at a major for the first time since the 2012 Open. 

"That [the driver issue at the PGA Championship] was a part of it [not doing media]," McIlroy told reporters.

"At Augusta, I skipped you guys on Thursday, so yeah, again, it's not out of the ordinary. I've done it before - I'm just doing it a little more often."

When asked why he was taking that stance, McIlroy added: "I feel like I've earned the right to do whatever I want to do.

"I'm not daring them [the PGA Tour, who don't enforce speaking to the media] to do anything.

"I hope they don't change it because it's a nice luxury to have. I'm just pointing out the fact that we have the ability to do it."

Rory McIlroy is ready for his U.S. Open campaign to come to an end. pic.twitter.com/jl9OFKRYld

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 14, 2025

The 36-year-old previously revealed it had been "hard to find the motivation to get back on the horse and go again" since his grand slam success. 

McIlroy finished tied-47th finish at the PGA Championship, followed by a missed cut at the Canadian Open as he continued to struggle with his driver. 

He was in danger of an early U.S, Open exit after carding two double bogeys in his first three holes on Friday, but sunk two late birdies to avoid missing yet another cut. 

"I alluded to it in my pre-tournament press conference, you don't really know how it's going to affect you," he said.

"You don't know how you're going to react to something that I've dreamt about for a long time. I alluded to the fact that, yeah, I have felt a little flat on the golf course afterwards.

"It's funny, like it's much easier being on the cut line when you don't really care if you're here for the weekend or not.

"I was sort of thinking, 'do I really want two more days here or not?'. So it makes it easier to play better when you're in that mindset."

When asked how McIlroy hoped to finish his US Open campaign, he closed with: "Hopefully a round in under four and a half hours and get out of here."