Rory McIlroy’s PGA Championship press conference starts with divorce warning

Rory McIlroy’s press conference Wednesday before the 2024 PGA Championship began with a moderator’s message to the media to avoid questions about his stunning divorce filing from wife Erica Stoll on Monday.

“I believe you all saw the statement yesterday from Rory’s communication team specifically that he will not be making any additional comments on his private life, so thank you all for respecting his wishes,” the moderator said at the start of the media session.

While at the podium at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, the Northern Irishman kept the discussion on the second major of the season, which gets underway Thursday, as well as his Wells Fargo Championship win last week.

McIlroy was asked by one reporter how he was doing personally and he replied, “I am ready to play this week.”

Rory McIlroy divorce, LIV drama take backset to golf as PGA Championship tees off

Reporters were told beforehand the session would be kept to 10 minutes with most other press conferences going about twice that length.

The 35-year-old, who won the PGA Championship in 2012 and ’14, is seeking his fifth major victory.

Rory McIlroy’s estranged wife Erica Stoll seen in first appearance since divorce reveal

It’s been business as usual for McIlroy, who has been seen on the driving range and on the course as reports of his breakup from Stoll emerged.

Documents were filed Monday in Florida and the pair has a prenup.

McIlroy and Stoll wed in 2017 and seek split custody of their 3-year-old daughter, Poppy.

The PGA Tour star’s camp released a statement Tuesday that McIlroy “will not be making any further comment,” and “stressed Rory’s desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible.”

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Prior to Wednesday’s press conference, McIlroy was seen taking in a practice round sans his wedding ring .

He is looking to capture his third consecutive victory following recent wins at the Zurich Classic , where he was paired with Shane Lowry, and at the Wells Fargo Championship.

McIlroy told Golf.com on Sunday that he seems to “play very good golf whenever I have a lot of stuff going on.”

“I’ve always been able to compartmentalize pretty well. I seem to for whatever reason play very good golf whenever I have a lot of stuff going on. I don’t know if it’s — I need that just to really — when I get on the course really focus on what I’m doing out there. But yeah, it seems to work,” he said.

McIlroy tees off Thursday at 8:15 a.m. with Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose.

The trio tees off for Friday’s second round at 1:40 p.m.

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