Rory McIlory’s missed chance to end a decade-long major tournament drought will be a nightmare he will forever have, according to Nick Faldo.
The six-time major champion believes McIlroy will forever regret the late gaffe that cost him the 2024 U.S. Open trophy.
“Those two mistakes will haunt Rory for the rest of his life,” Faldo said on Sky Sports on Sunday.
The next day, McIlroy agreed with Faldo.
“Looking back on this week, I have some regrets throughout the tournament, particularly missing two putts on the final day on the 16th and 18th holes,” McIlroy said in a statement. “But, as always, I plan to focus on the positives of this week far outweighing the negatives.”
“As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel I am closer than ever to winning the next Major. If there was one word to describe my career it would be ‘tenacity’. Over the last 17 years, I have persevered many times and I intend to do so again this time.”
McIlroy, who hasn’t won a major championship since the 2014 PGA Championship, opened up a two-stroke lead with four birdies in five holes, starting with the ninth, and came within a game of ending his major championship winless streak.
But the Northern Irishman missed crucial par putts on the 16th and 18th holes, squandering his chances and handing 2020 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau his second title.
After his win, DeChambeau offered his sympathies to the player.
“He missed that putt. [on 18]”I wouldn’t wish that on anyone,” he said. “Rory is one of the best players of all time. I’m sure this will fuel his passion even more. He’s a very determined guy. I think he’ll win some more majors.”
As the sun set over Pinehurst, McCleroy made a beeline for his car just six minutes after DeChambeau’s final putt. The four-time major champion didn’t speak to anyone, especially not the media.
“SportsCenter” anchor Scott Van Pelt offered his take on McIlroy’s sudden departure from the course.
“Rory is one of my favourite people in sport for many reasons. Firstly, he’s thoughtful and responds thoughtfully. He’s also a great champion. And, of course, it’s bittersweet that today, my chance to end this major drought has slipped away like this.” Van Pelt says It airs Sunday on ESPN.
“How he got away with it on Sunday and the fact that he walked away without saying anything about it will both be remembered,” he added.
Following the heartbreaking end to the tournament, McIlroy appeared with his wife Erica Stoll and their three-year-old daughter Poppy on Monday, marking his first public appearance since his divorce proceedings were settled.
On May 13, the day after winning the Wells Fargo Championship and three days before the PGA Championship, McIlroy filed for divorce from Stoll, his wife of seven years.
However, two days before the start of the U.S. Open, he confirmed that the two were together.
Sunday’s victory-winning putt earned McIlroy a second consecutive U.S. Open runner-up finish and gave him a top-10 finish in each of his past six starts at the tournament.
