Rory McIlroy believes he will learn a lot from his heartbreaking loss at the US Open at Pinehurst and is confident he will bounce back quickly. Reflecting on the tournament, McIlroy said, “I did things on that Sunday that I haven’t been able to do the last couple of years—took control of the golf tournament, held putts when I needed to, made birdies, and really got myself in there.”
He admitted it was a tough day and even tougher in the following days, but as time passed, he began to see the positives and all the good things he did throughout the week. McIlroy highlighted the lessons he learned, recalling how he started feeling uncomfortable waiting for his second putt on the 16th hole. The putt on the last hole was particularly tricky, especially knowing where Bryson DeChambeau was off the tee.
“I knew I had to hit it really soft. If the one back didn’t matter, I would have hit it firmer,” McIlroy explained. “Knowing that Bryson had hit it left off the tee, I wanted to ensure that if there was still a chance at a play-off, I would at least be in contention.”
McIlroy, who won his first major title in the 2011 US Open just two months after blowing a four-shot lead in the Masters, described his experience at Pinehurst on Sunday as a great day until it wasn’t. Despite the setback, he remains optimistic about the future, focusing on the positive aspects of his performance and the valuable lessons learned from the experience.