While only the coldest of hearts could not have sympathy for Rory McIlroy, his US Open meltdown proves he needs to rethink his approach to majors, writes Iain Carter.
As a crestfallen, dumbstruck Rory McIlroy sped away from the Pinehurst players’ car park following the bitterest defeat of his career, I remembered something Adam Scott said a couple of years ago while recalling his own worst golfing nightmare.
Even though he has four major wins, McIlroy craves another success more than is probably good for his health. Certainly the desire to get back over the line scrambled his mind and game down the closing stretch at Sunday’s US Open. It was extraordinary, titanic, gut wrenching sport, but that will be of no consolation to the forlorn McIlroy.
And when those calamitous moments come in the same round as some of the best golf of your life - play that has put you on the precipice of such elusive glory and you throw it away, there is nowhere to hide. Greg Norman talked after coughing up a six-shot lead to Sir Nick Faldo at the 1996 Masters and Dustin Johnson gave a quote after three putting the last to lose the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay.
And how on earth does McIlroy recover from this? The calamitous climax to his final round offered proof that, no matter how well he is playing, mentally he is vulnerable at the biggest moments. He loves the fact that he strides the fairways with his Belfast boyhood pal, Harry Diamond, at his side.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US Open: Rory McIlroy will be 'haunted forever' by Pinehurst collapse, says Sir Nick FaldoSir Nick Faldo says Rory McIlroy will be haunted forever by the late collapse which saw him miss out on a US Open triumph.
Read more »
Rory McIlroy leaves US Open IMMEDIATELY after humiliating Pinehurst collapseBryson DeChambeau came out on top in a dramatic final round, back nine battle with Rory McIlroy to win the U.S. Open by one shot on Sunday (June 16) as the Northern Irishman's major misery continued at Pinehurst resort in North Carolina.
Read more »
Rory McIlroy leaves US Open IMMEDIATELY after humiliating Pinehurst collapseWith the tournament at his mercy, McIlroy missed two easy putts inside four feet, throwing the tournament away and leaving Bryson DeChambeau to claim victory.
Read more »
Rory McIlroy leaves US Open IMMEDIATELY after humiliating Pinehurst collapseWith the tournament at his mercy, McIlroy missed two easy putts inside four feet, throwing the tournament away and leaving Bryson DeChambeau to claim victory.
Read more »
US Open 2024: Rory McIlroy says Scottie Scheffler is guy to beat at PinehurstIn the eyes of many pundits, fans and even players, this week's US Open is Scottie Scheffler's to lose given his dominant start to 2024.
Read more »
US Open 2024: Rory McIlroy says patience needed to win major title at PinehurstNorthern Ireland's Rory McIlroy says he will be 'embracing patience' this week as he tries to end his major drought at the 124th US Open.
Read more »