During his opening round at the Masters on Thursday, television viewers were treated to some instant reaction from Rory McIlroy after his second shot on the par-4 ninth.
The 33-year-old did a walk and talk interview with CBS - the first ever at the Masters - following a shot which left him with an outside chance of a birdie. McIlroy ended up pairing the hole.
"The club reached out to us last week and just inquired if I would be interested in doing it," McIlroy explained after the round in which he finished level par, seven shots behind the leaders.
"I did it a couple weeks ago at the Match Play. It definitely feels a little less intrusive with the earpiece rather than someone right up next to you with the microphone like they've been doing it in Europe for a couple of years.
"I thought it would be a cool thing to do. I did it in Austin and didn't feel like it took me out of my rhythm in any way or made me think about things too much. So it's nice to provide the audience at home a little bit more insight into what's going on out here.
"I think with the previous [Augusta National Golf Club] chairman, he definitely brought things forward. Then I think since Chairman Ridley has come along, he's really tried to push the envelope as well. So I think Augusta have a great balance of blending that history and that tradition but also making sure we're keeping up with the times, I guess."
McIlroy walk and talk interview at the Masters
Well this is pretty cool from Rory as he chats to the media WHILE playing at The Masters 🤯 pic.twitter.com/eLHSDofj1l
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) April 6, 2023
McIlroy said friends who were following him on the round saw him put the earpiece in on the ninth tee and must have been wondering what he was doing. He added that even if he had not birdied the previous hole, he would still have done the interview.
"It's fine. I'm temperamental. I'm not that temperamental," he said.
"I was wondering what they were going to ask me more so than what I was going to say."
The world number two ranked golfer said he'd only watched two walk and talk interviews before doing his - Max Homa at Torrey Pines and Keith Mitchell at Pebble Beach.
"I really enjoyed them," he said.
"I thought Max provided some great insight into the hole he was playing, and I thought Keith did a really good job as well."
Asked which player he'd most like to see do a walk and talk interview, McIlroy replied, "Tiger. There's only one answer there."
Though he said there was "zero" chance of that happening.
Lots of things can happen 🗣️
Rory McIlroy reflects on his first round at The Masters and looks ahead to the next 54 holes where he says the changing weather will have an effect. 🌧 pic.twitter.com/0y7wSMvpB9— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) April 6, 2023
See Also: Harold Varner III Hammers Fellow LIV Golf Players Ahead Of Augusta Test
