Sir Nick Faldo’s 11-word response to Rory McIlroy’s US Open collapse says it all

Sir Nick Faldo, a respected Sky Sports commentator, perfectly encapsulated Rory McIlroy’s heartbreak after the golfer missed two critical putts, costing him the US Open title. Faldo, a six-time major champion, admitted that McIlroy will be tormented “for the rest of his life” by these agonizing misses. McIlroy had been closing in on his first major win since 2014 but saw his chance slip away during the final crucial moments.

Despite starting the day with a three-shot lead, Bryson DeChambeau witnessed McIlroy’s remarkable rally, where he birdied four of five holes from the ninth. This surge put McIlroy two shots ahead on the leaderboard. As he entered the last three holes with a one-shot lead, two missed putts ultimately allowed DeChambeau to secure his second US Open title, clinching victory with a decisive par putt on the final hole.

McIlroy’s wait for a fifth major win now stretches into its tenth year. Reflecting on the dramatic conclusion, Faldo poignantly remarked, “That’s going to haunt Rory for the rest of his life, those two misses.” He further acknowledged the emotional impact on McIlroy, stating, “Rory will be broken-hearted. He’s going to be gutted, absolutely gutted.”

In stark contrast, McIlroy chose not to speak to the media following the dramatic finale at Pinehurst. DeChambeau, however, displayed grace in victory and expressed sympathy for McIlroy during his post-match interview. “For him to miss that putt (on 18), I would never wish that on anybody,” DeChambeau commented. “I think that fire in him is only going to continue to grow. He’s going to win more major championships. When he was climbing up the leaderboard and went two ahead, I thought, ‘Uh-oh, uh-oh’. But luckily, things went my way.”

DeChambeau finished the final day with a score of one-over, concluding the tournament at six-under overall. He demonstrated remarkable composure, sinking four par putts in the final five holes to secure his victory. The magnitude of McIlroy’s collapse was underscored by golf statistician Justin Ray, who noted that McIlroy had successfully converted all 496 putts inside three feet this season before his crucial miss on the 16th hole.

This dramatic turn of events underscores the unpredictable nature of golf, where fortunes can change in an instant, leaving indelible marks on players’ careers.