Rory McIlroy says he has “earned the best to do no matter I need to do” after skipping media duties following his opening two rounds throughout what he known as a “fairly common” US Open efficiency.

The Masters champion spoke to the media for the primary time for the reason that match began after Saturday’s four-over 74 pushed him again to 10 over par after three rounds.

McIlroy mentioned he hoped Sunday’s closing spherical will likely be a case of taking “4 and a half hours and out of right here” to place a disappointing week behind him.

The 36-year-old has lower a pissed off determine all through the match at Oakmont, solely simply making the lower on Friday.

And, after Saturday’s spherical, he mentioned making himself much less obtainable to some sections of the media is partly attributable to a narrative leaked surrounding his driver earlier than final month’s PGA Championship.

It emerged the US Golf Affiliation (USGA) instructed McIlroy to alter the membership simply two days earlier than the occasion after an tools inspection deemed it ‘non-conforming’. There was no suggestion that McIlroy had performed something mistaken.

“It is simply frustration with you guys [some sections of the media],” the Northern Irishman mentioned in his first post-round interview at a serious since successful the Masters at Augusta in April.

“I’ve been completely obtainable for the previous variety of years,” McIlroy added. “That [driver issue] was part of it however at Augusta I skipped you guys on Thursday. It isn’t out of the peculiar as I’ve performed it earlier than, however I’m doing it slightly extra usually. I really feel like I’ve earned the best to do no matter I need to do.”

The Oakmont course has proved to be a problem for the whole discipline and, though McIlroy has been pleased with some elements of his sport, retaining focus has been a difficulty at instances.

“The secret this week is staying affected person and I’ve tried to do a very good job of it on the market, however it’s simply a type of golf programs the place you possibly can lose persistence fairly rapidly,” he mentioned.

“I’ve pushed the ball nearly as good as I’ve for a very long time, in order that’s a constructive from this week. I hoped to play higher, however did not.”