After shooting an opening two-under-par round at the Open Championship on Thursday (14th July), Rory McIlroy refused to back down from his comments that it was not his responsibility to help grow the game of golf.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), two-under:

"I knew today was a day where you had to make the most of the conditions because I don't think we're going to see the course like this for the rest of the week. I think the elements are going to be a bit of a challenge. But two-under par, shoot something in the 60s, it's a solid start."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), two-under (on comments that he was not interesting in growing the game following his withdrawal from the Olympics):

"I feel like I do my bit to grow the game. It's not as if I'm uninterested. I feel like golf is a great vehicle to -- I don't want to force golf on anyone. But I feel like golf is a great vehicle to install values in kids. I'm an ambassador for the PGA Junior League, I do some stuff for the First Tee in the States, and I feel like I've used my success in golf in a very positive way in the community. Look, again, the next generation can play golf if they want or they don't. It won't make me any less happy. But if I can somehow make a positive change in the world by what I do on the golf course, so whether that means raise money for charity or give kids more of a chance in life growing up, I've been very fortunate to do what I've done in golf, and I feel like I've used that success in a positive way. So I have no regrets about where I stand on certain things, but I wish I maybe would have just elaborated a little bit more on what I said."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), two-under:

"I think my opinion's shared by a few people, but some people may think it's wrong and that's fine. But I've spent seven years trying to please everyone, and I figured out that I can't really do that, so I may as well be true to myself."