In a dramatic and gut-wrenching turn of events at the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy’s quest for his fifth major championship was thwarted by a few agonizing missed putts, resulting in a narrow defeat to Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy, who was aiming to end a decade-long drought of major wins, saw his hopes dashed on the final day at Pinehurst in North Carolina.
McIlroy entered Sunday’s final round trailing DeChambeau by three strokes but quickly closed the gap, shooting one-under-par on the front nine. By the turn, McIlroy had surged ahead, bolstered by three birdies in four holes, creating a two-stroke lead. His momentum, however, took a sudden and unfortunate turn on the back nine.
At the par-four 16th hole, McIlroy, who had been flawless inside three feet all season, missed a critical short putt. This miss was McIlroy’s first from within three feet in 2024, ending a remarkable streak of 496 consecutive successful putts from that distance. The error proved costly, and although he managed to steady himself with a par at the 17th, his troubles were far from over.
Arriving at the 18th hole, McIlroy found himself in a challenging position after his tee shot landed in the rough. He recovered well, chipping onto the green to leave himself a short putt for par. In a cruel twist of fate, McIlroy missed this putt as well, compounding his heartbreak and causing him to fall to five-under for the tournament.
DeChambeau, meanwhile, faced his own challenges on the final hole but managed to escape with a spectacular shot from the bunker, leaving him with a short putt for par. He made no mistake, sinking the putt and securing his second U.S. Open title. McIlroy, left to reflect on his missed opportunities, quickly exited the Pinehurst course as DeChambeau celebrated his victory with the North Carolina crowd.
In his victory speech, DeChambeau expressed his gratitude to the fans and his team, acknowledging the support that helped him clinch the title. “You guys have meant the world to me,” he told the enthusiastic crowd. “To my team that’s growing quite a bit and to my best friends and the people that I love the most, I can’t thank you enough for being here. You guys mean the world to me, and I would not be here without you.”
For McIlroy, the loss was a bitter reminder of the fine margins in golf and the heartbreak that can accompany such moments. Despite his impeccable performance throughout the season, the missed putts on the final holes of the U.S. Open will linger as a painful memory in his pursuit of a major title.