The tours, though, would struggle to impose mandatory interviews because they are organisations effectively run by the players themselves.
Not so the majors. Augusta National, the PGA of America, USGA and R&A – who are responsible for the Masters, US PGA, US Open and The Open respectively – might, and probably should, consider making such a regime a condition of entry.
This is especially the case while there is an increasing perception of a growing distance between top players and a mainstream media that can do so much to oil the PR machine that helps feed such gargantuan bank balances.
And it seems in many cases, the more money they get, the less approachable these players become. They are also seemingly more prone to temper tantrums.
In the past two majors there have been foul-mouthed, club throwing outbursts from several players – including the usually mild-mannered world number one Scheffler, who tossed his putter on the 15th green after a missed putt. Courses and locker rooms have felt the full force of fury from some of the best remunerated athletes on the planet.
McIlroy, by no means the main offender, lobbed a club and smashed a tee marker during this US Open, which was uncharacteristic from someone who in the injury-induced absence of Tiger Woods is the sport’s greatest ambassador and most popular player.
While not a great look, he had clearly, and understandably, reached boiling point last week. Reporting of “driver-gate” and his perceived lack of respect for Jack Nicklaus, for not telling the legendary American he would not be playing in his recent Memorial tournament – which had never been on his intended schedule – had irked him.
His game was in decline. He was struggling to find a new driver that fitted his feels and the drive to fix such problems on the range. Despite super-human achievement, he is only human.
McIlroy had reached a breaking point. It can happen to anyone, even someone who is usually so giving and interesting in his interviews.
He did not want to speak after Saturday’s round, but he did and in so doing broke his silent treatment of the media.
What emerged from that huddle did not show him in his best light, but it might prove a reset point.
And by the end of the week his driver was starting to behave. It is the key attribute to his golfing prowess.
On Sunday night he was much more his old self, speaking of his desire to get back to Europe, where a new house at Wentworth awaits as well as an Open at Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland.
He plays the Travellers in Connecticut this week and then he is done with America for a while. He will take a break before July’s Scottish Open and then a potentially tumultuous end to the men’s major season on the Antrim coast a week later.
Expect his mojo to be back there. As he says, if it is not then we know he has a problem.
