After the chance to win his first major championship in a decade slipped through his fingers at the US Open at Pinehurst, Northern Ireland superstar Rory McIlroy has reflected on the dramatic turn of events.
Rory McIlroy has admitted he made a mistake by not speaking to the media after losing his first major win in a decade at the US Open in agonising circumstances.
The Northern Irishman came closer than ever to ending his decade-long drought by leading the tournament with five holes to go at Pinehurst No. 2 in June. But he missed two short putts on his final three holes and handed the win to Bryson DeChambeau in a dramatic finale to the North Carolina show.
After waiting for his fifth major championship title of his glittering career, which stretches back to the PGA Championship in 2014, he will head to the Open at Royal Troon hoping to end his wait. Now the 35-year-old has reflected on the events of the US Open earlier in the summer and provided some insight into his state of mind on his visit to Scotland.
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy and others in race against time after controversial PGA Tour decision
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy offers incredibly sad insight into his life as a professional golfer
Reflecting on the fallout from his disappointment at Pinehurst, he admitted that his decision not to speak to the media after the event may have been misguided. He told the Guardian: “Maybe the only downside to me not speaking (to the media) afterwards was that I had three weeks of speculation.
“I should have done this, I should have done that, but we’ll never know because he didn’t say it. I trust the people around me. I don’t need to seek outside advice. If the tournament ended after 68 holes, people would call me the best golfer in the world.”
Despite this regret, it is clear that McIlroy is optimistic as he hopes to win the Open a decade after his triumph at Royal Liverpool. He said: “You have to be an eternal optimist. Let’s say you play 25 tournaments a year and you win three of them. You are one of the greatest players in history. We lose a lot more than we win.
Follow us on X For the best and latest in sports news.
“Yes, I was in a great position to win and I should have won, but it’s not the first time I’ve let something slip,” he continued, while remaining calm about his disappointment in June. “It probably won’t be the last. You have to see it as an ongoing process. It was tough, but it’s a tournament.”
“I play between 23 and 25 games a year. You have to keep going. The good thing about this game is that you get the chance to get back on track after a tough loss. You try to learn from it and do better next time.”
Trying to look on the positive side of having come so close to winning the title before losing it, he added: “I just took the initiative. I was less indecisive and played more freely. I was more assertive, not so passive. At this point, I’d rather lose trying to win than lose trying not to lose. I haven’t been that assertive in the last two years at the biggest tournaments.”
