U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy fallacious to go away Pinehurst No. 2 early

Rory McIlroy made loads of errors on Sunday down the stretch on the U.S. Open, the place Bryson DeChambeau bested him by one.

Individuals will speak in regards to the missed putts on the sixteenth and 18th holes for years to come back. The poor tee shot on the par-3 fifteenth, the place he made three bogeys throughout the week, can also be a degree of rivalry.

However his largest blunder got here after the spherical, instantly following DeChambeau’s inconceivable par save to win the title.

McIlroy obtained out of dodge, squealing out of Pinehurst No. 2 sooner than you might say goodbye. He didn’t converse to the media. He didn’t speak to anybody on the Golf Channel. He didn’t congratulate DeChambeau on his second main triumph, maybe probably the most obtrusive mistake of all.

That’s a foul, and fairly frankly, a classless transfer for a participant who has proven nothing however class throughout his illustrious profession. You must face the music afterward, particularly contemplating how a lot skilled golfers are idolized and make these days—an quantity that may improve exponentially contemplating the Saudi Public Funding Fund’s (PIF) pending funding. So many different nice athletes have endured heartbreak after heartbreak, they usually in some way push by way of and discover a option to describe what occurred.

Picture by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos

McIlroy even did so final yr on the U.S. Open in Los Angeles.

After ending one stroke behind Wyndham Clark, McIlroy spoke to the media afterward and delivered this anecdote:

“Once I do lastly win this subsequent main, it’s going to be actually, actually candy,” McIlroy stated at LACC in 2023.

“I might undergo 100 Sundays like this to get my fingers on one other main championship.”

Do these 100 Sundays embrace a day just like the one McIlroy simply skilled at Pinehurst No. 2? In all probability not. Nothing can examine to this heartbreak, and I’m not so certain McIlroy can ever get well from what transpired over the ultimate hour of the 124th U.S. Open.

However have you learnt who else suffered an agonizing defeat just one month in the past at Valhalla?

DeChambeau.

What did he do?

He congratulated Xander Schauffele on his first main championship and spoke to the media afterward, offering his perspective on how issues performed out on the 18th inexperienced.

“Happy with Xander for lastly getting the job accomplished. He’s a tremendous golfer and a well-deserved main champion now,” DeChambeau stated.

Picture by Joe Robbins/Getty Photos

“On my aspect of the coin, disappointing, however, no matter. I performed properly. Didn’t strike it my finest all week. Felt like I had my ‘B’ recreation just about. My placing was A-plus, my wedging was A-plus, my quick recreation was A-plus, and driving was like a B. You realize, I shot 20-under par in a serious championship. Happy with myself for the best way I dealt with adversity.”

DeChambeau didn’t collapse, per se, as Schauffele birdied the ultimate gap to beat him by a stroke at 21-under. The LIV Golf star fired a ultimate spherical 8-under 64. He put the strain on, arising a tad quick.

However, it was nonetheless a troublesome option to end. Shedding is difficult, particularly in golf, a recreation that hardly makes any sense.

McIlroy, in the meantime, shouldn’t be the primary—nor will he be the final—to undergo a stomach-wrenching defeat.

Look no additional than Phil Mickelson’s mishap on the 72nd gap at Winged Foot in 2006 and Dustin Johnson’s three-putt gaffe at Chambers Bay in 2015.

Picture by Andrew Redington/Getty Photos

But, each Mickelson and Johnson took it on the chin after their respective collapses.

McIlroy didn’t.

Mickelson, after blowing it on 18 and handing the title to Geoff Ogilvy, famously stated, “I’m in shock, I can’t consider I’ve simply accomplished that. I’m such an fool.”

Johnson, in the meantime, obtained 11 questions from the media in 2015, every of them primarily centered on what transpired on the 18th inexperienced, the place he gifted the championship to Jordan Spieth.

“Upset,” Johnson stated on that fateful Father’s Day within the Pacific Northwest.

“I had all the possibilities on the planet. I’m actually happy with the best way I hit the ball. Happy with the best way I dealt with myself all day.”

Are you aware what number of questions McIlroy fielded on Sunday?

Zero.

As a substitute of speaking to the press, or to anybody from NBC Sports activities for that matter, McIlroy bolted to his automobile earlier than DeChambeau even accepted the trophy. His non-public aircraft was within the air by 7:30 p.m. ET, roughly 40 minutes after he missed on 18, and he landed in South Florida an hour and 14 minutes later, per Radar Atlas.

I perceive that going through scrutiny within the age of social media and 24/7 information protection is demanding and troublesome, particularly in moments of heartbreak and agony. I additionally know that he has loads happening in his private life. However McIlroy makes thousands and thousands of {dollars} to play golf. Tons of of individuals additionally cowl the game, making nowhere near what McIlroy earns. It’s their job to share McIlroy’s perspective with thousands and thousands world wide in an effort to develop the sport and supply a viewpoint on one of many largest occasions within the sport.

It’s additionally McIlroy’s obligation to elucidate what occurred. It’s additionally the proper factor to do.

Do you suppose Scott Norwood of the Buffalo Payments wished to fulfill the media after he missed the game-winning area purpose in Tremendous Bowl XXV? No. However he did. Norwood answered each single query—identical to Mickelson and Johnson.

That’s what skilled athletes do.

Therefore, McIlroy made an enormous mistake of blowing off the media and never acknowledging DeChambeau. He’s higher than that.

However on the finish of the day, we’re all human. Hopefully, McIlroy, and others for that matter, will be taught from this error as a result of a mistake is a mistake provided that you’ll be able to’t be taught from it.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.