Rory McIlroy addresses his US Open meltdown in statement
May 12, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the third tee during the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Rory McIlroy has finally broken his silence following a disappointing collapse at the U.S. Open.
McIlroy played well all week at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C., but he finished one back of winner Bryson DeChambeau on Sunday. McIlroy likely would have won the tournament (and his fifth major) if not for two brutal missed short putts in the final three holes.
After choking away what would have been his second U.S. Open victory, McIlroy declined an interview request with NBC. A video also showed him quickly leaving the course without speaking with the media.
On Monday, McIlroy issued a statement on social media expressing disappointment over the way his week came to an end at Pinehurst. He also said he is “going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything.”
“Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer,” McIlroy wrote. “Firstly, I’d like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that.
“As I reflect on my week, I’ll rue a few things, mostly the 2 missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day. But, as I always try to do, I’ll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives. As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have. The one word that I would describe my career as is resilient. I’ve shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again.
“I’m going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland.”
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 17, 2024
McIlroy has struggled with his putting in recent years, which is one of the primary reasons it has been a decade since he last won a major. He appeared to have the putter working throughout much of his final round at Pinehurst, but that part of his game failed him once again when it mattered.
The U.S. Open win was the second for DeChambeau, who had a classy message about McIlroy after the tournament.