Rory McIlroy finally addresses media at rough US Open, admits hes been flat since Masters win

OAKMONT, Pa.— It seems like a lifetime ago that Rory McIlroy knelt on all fours at the 18th green at Augusta National sobbing uncontrollably after reaching his ultimate goal of winning the Masters and completing the career Grand Slam. McIlroy, at least in public, hasn’t appeared to be the same since, and it hasn’t been for the better.Of late, the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland has spent almost as much time ducking the media as he has been playing golf.

In this week’s U.S.Open at Oakmont, he’s appeared frustrated and agitated on the golf course, tossing clubs and grumbling about the set-up. After a tee shot he wasn’t happy about on the 17th hole Friday, he smashed a tee marker apart with his driver.Friday’s second round was the sixth consecutive time after a major championship round that he has refused to speak to reporters following his round, dating back to all four rounds at the PGA Championship last month at Quail Hollow.On Saturday, that curious trend ended as McIlroy spoke to reporters after his third-round 74 that has him at 10-over par, 13 shots out of the lead at the time his round was complete.McIlroy sounded very much like a player who didn’t want to be at Oakmont, like he can’t wait to get on his private jet after Sunday’s final round and get out of Dodge.When one Irish reporter did his best to soft-shoe a question to McIlroy, pointing out the “fight’’ he showed in Friday’s second round to make the cut, McIlroy said with a laugh, “Yeah, 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.’’Asked to give his “assessment’’ of his U.S.

Open, McIlroy said, “Pretty average.’’McIlroy has alluded to dealing with somewhat of a crisis of motivation since his life-changing accomplishment at the...