Rory McIlroy shows true colours in honest statement after US Open pain

Rory McIlroy has chosen to reflect positively on his recent US Open drama with Bryson DeChambeau as he prepares for the Scottish Open. McIlroy, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, was on the verge of winning his first major trophy in a decade at the US Open but was ultimately overtaken by DeChambeau. Despite leading for much of the tournament, McIlroy’s missed par putts on the 18th hole allowed DeChambeau to claim his second major championship.

The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the 35-year-old McIlroy, who hasn’t won a major since his 2014 PGA Championship victory at Valhalla. Yet, despite the heartache, McIlroy remains optimistic and grateful for his career. Speaking at the Genesis Scottish Open at North Berwick’s Renaissance Club, he expressed his gratitude for his life and career, saying, “There’s not a day goes by that I don’t feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world to get up every morning and be healthy and follow my dream. There’s videos of me at seven years old saying I want to be the best player in the world and I want to win all the majors. To be able to try to make that little 7-year-old boy proud every day is something that I really don’t take for granted. I’m very appreciative of the position that I’m in in life.”

Reflecting on his US Open experience, McIlroy shared that he quickly moved past the disappointment. “I got over it pretty quickly. The few days after it were pretty tough at times, but I feel like I’ve done a good job of thinking about it rationally and constructively and taking what I need from it and trying to learn from it. But like for the most part it was a great day. I keep saying to people, ‘It was a great day until it wasn’t.'”

After his defeat in North Carolina, McIlroy took a few weeks off to reflect and regroup, missing several top-level events, including the John Deere Classic and the Travelers Championship, which Scottie Scheffler won.

McIlroy’s return to the sport comes just in time for The Open at Royal Troon next week, where he will be chasing his third Open title. He previously won the tournament in 2012 and 2014. Following a lean period between 2015 and 2021, McIlroy has regained his form in recent years, finishing third in 2022 and T6 last year. The 2023 tournament was won by outsider Brian Harman, who had 100/1 odds.

McIlroy’s positive outlook and determination to make his younger self proud keep him focused and ready for the challenges ahead.