In an ironic twist, it would have been fitting if a Hollywood native had emerged as the victor of this year’s U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. However, Rory McIlroy, originally from the town of Holywood in Northern Ireland, is not having the kind of year one would expect.
On Sunday, McIlroy was in pursuit of his first major championship title in nine years, a dry spell that continues to overshadow a stellar career that kicked off with four major titles from 2011 to 2014. Unfortunately, his recent performances have been less than stellar. In April, he failed to make the cut at the Masters Tournament, and a month later, he finished tied for seventh at the P.G.A. Championship.
To add insult to injury, on June 6th, McIlroy, a staunch supporter of the PGA Tour in its dispute with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, discovered just hours before the news went public that the two tours had shockingly formed a business partnership. Like most players on the PGA Tour, McIlroy felt blindsided.
However, on Sunday, a buoyant and smiling McIlroy, aged 34, was once again eagerly chasing a major title in the final round of the 123rd U.S. Open. He started strong with a birdie on the opening hole and seemed poised to catch up to the eventual tournament winner, Wyndham Clark, who was tied for the lead with Rickie Fowler.
Unfortunately, McIlroy never birdied another hole throughout the round and ultimately finished one stroke behind Clark, both golfers shooting even-par 70s. This marked McIlroy’s third runner-up finish at a major and his tenth top-five finish in a major since 2014.
Reflecting on his performance, McIlroy stated, “I fought until the very end, and I’m getting closer… I just have to keep putting myself in these positions, and sooner or later, it will happen for me.” He drew a parallel between his performance in this tournament and his second-place finish at last year’s British Open at St. Andrews.
The pursuit for victory extended to the final moments of the event, as Clark, playing in the last group of the day, had to execute a two-putt from 60 feet on the 18th green to clinch the championship. McIlroy admitted that he was hoping for a mistake, saying, “You don’t want to wish bad on anyone, but you’re really hoping for a three-putt… A mistake can give you a glimmer of hope.”
McIlroy’s round started auspiciously with an opening birdie, but he struggled to maintain momentum and couldn’t convert any putts longer than seven feet. He missed a crucial eight-foot birdie putt at the eighth hole, which he later lamented. Despite his efforts to stay in the game, McIlroy couldn’t seize key opportunities and ultimately fell short.
When asked about the ever-present questions regarding his nine-year drought in major championships, McIlroy admitted it was exhausting, but he also expressed unwavering determination, stating, “When I do finally win my next major, it’s going to be really, really sweet… I would go through 100 Sundays like this to get my hands on another major championship.”
In the end, McIlroy may not have secured victory at this year’s U.S. Open, but his unwavering spirit and relentless pursuit of excellence in golf serve as a testament to his undeniable talent and resilience.
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