Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley expressed concern over Rory McIlroy's conduct at the US Open. The Northern Irish golfer's hopes of securing a second major this year were dashed early on in the tournament due to his poor performance at Oakmont Country Club. In addition to his struggles on the green, the 36-year-old chose not to speak to the press after the first two rounds of the event, breaking his silence for the first time in seven championship rounds on Saturday night.

After discussing his problems at the Pennsylvania course, McIlroy further stirred controversy by insisting that he "earned the right" to decide when he wants to engage with the media. His standoffish attitude towards the press drew criticism from McGinley, who suggested that his fellow countryman appears "fed up" and questioned whether his Masters victory has left him emotionally exhausted.

"I didn't enjoy them, I don't like to see that," the 58-year-old commented on Sky Sports. "I think Rory's better than that. Either not talking to the media or not giving a press conference like that doesn't serve him fairly or rightly for the kind of person that he is.

"He looks fed up to me, he looks like he's had enough of everything. Whether it was the emotional release of everything that's gone on, not just in winning the Masters but in his whole career being pointed towards trying to be a Grand Slam winner and now he's kind of reeling on the ropes a bit after that."

McGinley expressed concern over McIlroy's demeanour, saying: "He's not himself. This is not normal. People and players look up to him, he's created such a great profile in the media and a [press] conference like that with his body language and short answers or not doing it doesn't serve him right.

"I don't like to see it, I'm disappointed for Rory that it's come to that. Something is eating at him, he hasn't let us know what it is but there's something not right."

This is not McGinley's first criticism of McIlroy's behaviour with the media this week. The golfer had previously expressed frustration that reporters had leaked news of his non-conforming driver at the PGA Championship, forcing him to make a last-minute change.

Speaking on Golf Channel's 'Live From', McGinley described McIlroy as looking "un-Rory-like" during press conferences, saying: "I'm no psychologist but it looks like the air has been sucked out of him a little since that, not just in the way he's played but in his press conferences.

"It's very un-Rory-like in his press conferences to have such low energy. There will be a reset at some stage and it doesn't look like it'll come this week. His team are saying he's playing OK.

"But this is not normal Rory. This is not when he's at his best in my opinion. I think he's at his best when he's p---ed off and he's out to prove something following off a big loss or something that went wrong."

McIlroy enjoyed a more positive Sunday with a three-under par round, though he still ended seven-over overall.