Rory McIlroy has faced criticism after snubbing media interviews following his disappointing finish in the first round of the Masters.
The Northern Irishman elected to head straight to the practice range instead of speaking to journalists who had gathered after his round.
His decision sparked backlash from fans online.
"Coward move by the so called 'face of the tour' nut up and take your ass whipping like a man," one fan wrote on X.
Rory McIlroy has faced criticism after snubbing media interviews following his disappointing finish in the first round of the Masters
REUTERS
Another commented: "Face of the tour really not acting like the face of the tour."
"Rory can't handle the pressure. He needs to fly under the radar or have a course that equals it out," said a third.
Others were even more critical, with one writing: "Per usual with the crybaby."
"And there you have it! The reason why people like myself root against him!" stated another fan.
McIlroy's performance at Augusta carries significant weight as the four-time major champion has never won the Masters in his career.
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Rory McIlroy was 4-under (T2) in the middle of the fairway on No. 15.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 10, 2025
He ends the day at even par (T26) following two double bogeys in a three-hole stretch. pic.twitter.com/HgiZSWUltZ
Securing the coveted green jacket and $20 million prize would complete a career Grand Slam for the former world No 1.
His opening round on Thursday initially showed promise.
McIlroy was four-under par after the first 15 holes, putting him in contention near the top of the leaderboard.
At one stage, he was tied for second place.
The strong start had him close to achieving a career first by finishing under par in the Masters' opening round.
However, McIlroy's promising start unravelled dramatically in the closing holes.
Two costly double bogeys saw his score plummet back to level-par 72, with the collapse leaving him tied for 27th place after the first round.
He now sits seven shots behind leader Justin Rose.
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The disappointing finish transformed what could have been a breakthrough opening round into another frustrating start at Augusta.
McIlroy's decision to bypass media duties and head straight to the practice range came after this sudden reversal of fortune.
His choice to work on his game, rather than face questions about the late collapse, highlighted his frustration.
On the Golf Channel, McIlroy's compatriot Paul McGinley criticised how the golfer's level dropped during the round.
McGinley claimed McIlroy "got distracted" and lost concentration on the 15th hole for his third shot.
Rory McIlroy opted to practice, instead of conducting interviews, following his issues at the Masters
reuters
"It took him a long time to play that pitch shot. His playing partner Akshay Bhatia put his second in the water. He took ages to play his shot - he took about 10 practice swings," McGinley explained.
"For a player who likes to play quickly, it was a drop in concentration. And that is what great champions don't do."#
McIlroy will return to action on Friday for the second round.
It remains to be seen whether he will participate in media interviews following his next round at Augusta.
