Q. How was it out there today?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, it was good. I said yesterday, this is a nice tonic compared to last week in terms of it's a slightly more benign golf course and the penalty for missing isn't quite as severe. You can give yourself plenty of chances for birdies, which Keegan and I did today.
Yeah, overall it was a good start to the tournament, and I think when you're in a two-ball like that and we can sort of feed off one another a little bit, too, that's nice, as well.
Q. Did you notice any of the course changes they've made in the last couple years, like on 12, particularly in the fairways or anything that stood out to you?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, 12 is a different one. I've always hit driver there to take the left side out of play, and then with having the fairway end there at the top of the hill, it brings that left side into play a little bit more. That's why I hit it 40 yards right off the tee.
But yeah, I definitely feel like they've made a couple of holes a little tougher and just make you think a little bit more. 12, the second hole, as well, the 9th tee shot, moving that tee box over to the right a little bit. Yeah, you can definitely notice a few holes where it's a little more thought needed.
Q. Do you like them?
RORY McILROY: I do, yeah. I've always liked this golf course. Yeah, I think the changes they've made have definitely been an improvement.
Q. Are you coming into this week with an attitude of, I want to win, I don't want to look at any other place than winning, or what is your approach coming into this week?
RORY McILROY: I just want to see some good golf and see some better shots. I think if you concentrate on that and you're concentrating on your quality of golf and concentrating on just trying to play to the best of your ability, the result will take care of itself.
There's no point in thinking about the result right now. I'm just trying to play as good as I can and make good swings, and if I do that enough, more than likely I'll find myself in a position to have a chance to win.
Q. Obviously a pretty good twosome with you and the hometown kid in Keegan. Did it feel like Adam Schefter was the star of the show?
RORY McILROY: Not really. Obviously there was a few shouts for him out there, but no, there was definitely a lot more "Captain America" and "USA" chants out there, which is cool. It's cool for Keegan to be here, be the U.S. Ryder Cup captain and obviously get all that support.
Q. Was it cool to have Schefter kind of the one calling you guys?
RORY McILROY: Yeah. Look, I'm not a huge football fan and didn't grow up with it, so it's probably lost on me a little bit. But obviously a lot of people thought it was really cool.
Q. You spoke recently about your thoughts on the media. I'm curious, in today's game in your mind, what do you see the role of the media, specifically journalists, reporters, in today's game?
RORY McILROY: I'm not a journalist. I don't know. Report the birdies and bogeys, I guess. And obviously you have to -- the storylines sort of write themselves for the most part. But yeah, I certainly see the need for it and see the need for the platform. Like I've never argued that. But I just think nowadays there's so many different ways to consume sports and entertainment. It certainly isn't the only avenue to get your sports news and information.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports