McIlroy arrived as pre-tournament favourite to claim back-to-back major titles, having completed the career Grand Slam with victory at The Masters the previous month, only to finish tied-47th as Scottie Scheffler claimed the Wanamaker Trophy.
Reports emerged after McIlroy’s second round that his driver had been deemed non-conforming when tested by the USGA ahead of the event, with the Northern Irishman declining post-round interviews throughout the tournament.
It later emerged that Scheffler’s driver had also fallen foul of the regulations before his victory, with McIlroy frustrated that information about his non-confirming club was made public.
“I was a little p***** off because I knew that Scottie’s [Scheffler] driver had failed on Monday, but my name was the one that was leaked,” McIlroy told reporters ahead of the RBC Canadian Open. “It was supposed to stay confidential. Two members of the media were the ones that leaked it.
“Again, I didn’t want to get up there and say something that I regretted, either. I’m trying to protect Scottie – I don’t want to mention his name. I’m trying to protect TaylorMade. I’m trying to protect the USGA, PGA of America, myself.
“I just didn’t want to get up there and say something that I regretted at the time. With Scottie’s stuff, that’s not my information to share.