Shane Lowry reveals emotional toll of Rory McIlroy’s US Open agony in message of support

Shane Lowry, the 2019 Open Championship winner, shared a heartfelt message on social media in response to Rory McIlroy’s recent U.S. Open defeat. Lowry wrote, “From the outside looking in, this game might seem easy. But in reality, it’s the toughest of all. We’re fortunate for what we get from it, but the last 24 hours have been hard on me. We play not just for ourselves, but for our family, friends, and fans. What Rory has experienced is as tough as it gets in our sport. I encourage everyone to please be kind.”

This comes after McIlroy broke his silence to congratulate Bryson DeChambeau on his victory and announced he would take a break from the PGA Tour. McIlroy, a four-time major champion, plans to return in time for The Open at Royal Troon next month, where he hopes to secure his first major title in a decade.

In his statement on social media, McIlroy reflected on his challenging experience at the U.S. Open. “Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer,” he began. “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.”

Reflecting on his performance, McIlroy continued, “I’ll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly the two missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day. But, as I always try to do, I’ll focus on the positives, which far outweigh the negatives. I feel closer to winning my next major championship than ever before. Resilience is the word I’d use to describe my career. I’ve shown it time and again over the past 17 years, and I will show it again. I’m going to take a few weeks off to process everything and prepare for the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland.”

McIlroy’s announcement of a break from the PGA Tour comes after a painful near-miss at the U.S. Open, where he lost a two-shot lead with five holes remaining. Despite high hopes of ending his 10-year major drought, he missed two critical putts and had three bogeys in the final stretch, allowing DeChambeau to claim victory with a stunning finish at the 18th hole.

Shane Lowry, who has played alongside McIlroy in two Ryder Cup campaigns, expressed his understanding of the immense pressure that top players like McIlroy face. He called on fans to show kindness and support during this difficult time for McIlroy.