Recounting the most challenging day in his professional golfing career, Rory McIlroy announced his decision to temporarily step back from the sport after a distressing final round at the US Open in Pinehurst. Subsequent to losing a two-stroke lead and ceding the win to Bryson DeChambeau, McIlroy vacated the course hastily, eschewing press responsibilities. The disheartened Northern Irish golfer, who has been striving for a fifth Major for the past ten years, has recused himself from the upcoming Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
In reflecting on his performance, McIlroy stated, “Yesterday marked my toughest day in nearly 17 years as a professional golfer. However, I must first express my congratulations to Bryson; a commendable champion and a much-needed presence in professional golf.”
As McIlroy pondered on his game last week, he expressed regret for a couple of moments during the tournament, particularly the two missed putts on the final day. However, focusing on the brighter sides of the week, he remained confident about an upcoming Major win.
Characterising his career as resilient, McIlroy reiterated his determination, saying “I’ve proven my resilience repeatedly over the past 17 years and I will do so again”. To recuperate and prepare for upcoming tournaments, including the defence of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon, he intended to take a brief hiatus.
Shortly after submitting his scorecard for his disheartening round, McIlroy boarded his plane back home. It remains uncertain as to how long he will need to recover from this setback. In the 20 subsequent top-10 finishes in major championships since his last success at the 2014 US PGA, McIlroy had never been so close to the title as he was this past Sunday.
McIlroy has become the initial player to rank in the top 10 for six successive US Opens since Jack Nicklaus’ reign from 1977-82. Notably, he has achieved this feat without a single victory, a record untouched since Jack Hobens’ stint from 1905-10.
Brad Faxon, McIlroy’s putting coach, conveyed his sentiment on Golf Channel saying, “No one has shouldered more expectations in the past decade. It’s a known fact worldwide that he hasn’t secured a Major since 2014″.
Faxon expressed his concern about McIlroy’s struggle with short-putts misses, particularly on the 16th and 18th. He commented, “It’s a real challenge to bounce back from such occurrences. It’s immensely hard”.
Paul McGinley, Ex-Ryder Cup skipper, added his observations saying, “A shade of uncertainty crept in his game. He proceeded to take actions that are uncommon for him, such as retreating and taking undue time over the putts. It’s obvious that the pressure had a significant impact on him”.
McGinley further empathised, stating,”Any golfer would be heartbroken with such a loss, but for Rory, it is just catastrophic. Unfortunately, Rory has demonstrated a pattern of crumbling under pressure in the final stages.”