McIlroy’s next steps will shape legacy
Rory McIlroy came agonizingly close to breaking his major championship drought at last year’s U.S. Open in Los Angeles. Despite a promising start, he failed to secure a birdie over the last 17 holes, missed several fairways, and ultimately finished just one shot behind. Reflecting on the near-miss, McIlroy famously remarked, “I would go through…
Rory McIlroy came agonizingly close to breaking his major championship drought at last year’s U.S. Open in Los Angeles. Despite a promising start, he failed to secure a birdie over the last 17 holes, missed several fairways, and ultimately finished just one shot behind. Reflecting on the near-miss, McIlroy famously remarked, “I would go through 100 Sundays like this to get my hands on another major championship.” However, he surely wasn’t referring to the heartache he would face on Sunday at Pinehurst No. 2.
The 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 was memorable for several reasons. One standout moment was Bryson DeChambeau’s remarkable 55-yard bunker shot, which he expertly placed within 4 feet of the hole, securing his winning par putt. In contrast, McIlroy’s day was marred by missed opportunities, including crucial missed par putts from 30 inches on the 16th hole and 3 feet, 9 inches on the 18th. These moments are likely to be remembered as much as DeChambeau’s triumph.
Major championships are often a mix of victories and losses, and this one encapsulated both. DeChambeau celebrated his win with the crowd, inviting fans to touch the silver trophy. Meanwhile, McIlroy departed Pinehurst quickly, leaving in such haste that gravel scattered from under his tires. From the moment he left the scoring area to the time his plane took off, only 52 minutes had passed.
Describing the day as “probably the toughest I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer,” McIlroy chose to express his thoughts through a social media post the following day rather than facing the media, a departure from the norm for a professional golfer.
McIlroy’s collapse was hard to watch, though not unprecedented in the annals of golf. Phil Mickelson famously called himself an “idiot” after the 2006 U.S. Open, where he lost a one-shot lead on the 18th hole due to a risky 3-iron shot, ending in a double bogey. Similarly, in 1947, Sam Snead squandered a two-shot lead in an 18-hole playoff, ultimately losing after missing a crucial putt. Other memorable collapses include Jan Van de Velde’s triple bogey on the final hole of the 1999 Open Championship and Ed Sneed’s three-shot lead slip at the 1979 Masters, followed by a playoff loss.
Despite the heartbreak at Pinehurst, McIlroy has joined a long list of golfers who have experienced similar disappointments. While he did everything right for most of the final round, such as consistently finding fairways and maintaining composure, the reasons behind his crucial missed putt on the 16th remain a mystery. The question now is what the future holds for McIlroy.
He withdrew from the Travelers Championship, opting for a three-week break to reflect and regroup. With one major remaining this year, the British Open at Royal Troon, McIlroy’s focus will shift to preparing for that challenge.
McIlroy has faced major setbacks before. In 2011, he lost a four-shot lead at the Masters, finishing with an 80, and in 2022, he shared the lead at St. Andrews before settling for third place. Since his last major win at the 2014 PGA Championship, he has had limited chances to add to his tally. Pinehurst represents an opportunity lost.
While it would be unfair to define McIlroy’s legacy by his major near-misses, his career boasts significant accomplishments, including dominant victories at Congressional and Kiawah Island, a clutch performance at Valhalla, and a wire-to-wire win at Royal Liverpool. With 36 global victories, 26 on the PGA Tour, he stands as one of the most successful players of his generation.
Despite the ten-year gap since his last major title, McIlroy remains optimistic. Reflecting on his journey, he remarked, “I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have.” The next major he wins will hold immense significance, potentially overshadowing the memories of the ones that slipped away.