Rory McIlroy has said he would welcome Bryson DeChambeau's participation in September's Irish Open at Doonbeg, describing it as something that "would be great for the tournament", despite recently criticising the American golfer over a rules controversy at The Open Championship. The comments came after McIlroy had accused DeChambeau of holding the Open "hostage" on Friday, following a penalty for inadvertently improving his lie during the second round, highlighting a degree of tension between the two players even as McIlroy acknowledges the commercial and promotional benefit DeChambeau's presence would bring to the Irish event.

McIlroy finished one under par after a final round of 71 at Royal Birkdale, saying he felt "stuck in neutral" throughout the week at The Open and struggled to sustain momentum over the weekend. He also confirmed he will not play again before the PGA Tour play-offs in mid-August, and admitted he is now less enthused by the PGA Tour and FedEx Cup since completing his career Grand Slam, citing a shifting attitude that "ebbs and flows" and changes to the Tour Championship qualification structure.