Talk about a Major slump.
Rory McIlroy entered the final day of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina with high hopes of clinching his second title in this prestigious tournament.
Trailing the 54-hole leader Bryson DeChambeau by just three shots, McIlroy appeared to be in fine form as he approached the final stretch. He ignited the course early on, stringing together an impressive series of four birdies over five holes, demonstrating a masterful control of his putter.
However, as the pressure mounted, the old nemesis that has frequently haunted McIlroy’s game—his putting—resurfaced with a vengeance. The critical moment unfolded at the par-4 16th hole. Coming off a bogey at the 15th, McIlroy held a slender 1-shot lead over DeChambeau, sitting at 7-under par. Faced with a crucial three-foot putt to save par and maintain his lead, McIlroy unexpectedly pulled the shot, resulting in another disappointing bogey.
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The troubles for McIlroy didn’t stop there. As he approached the 18th hole, the scenario was set for a dramatic finish, tied at 6-under with DeC
hambeau. With DeChambeau also faltering slightly off the tee, the stage was set for McIlroy.
A simple par on the final hole would likely have secured at least a playoff. Yet again, McIlroy missed a critical putt, this time from a shockingly short distance, concluding his round with three bogeys over the final four holes, a devastating blow to his championship aspirations.
While DeChambeau emerged victorious, securing his second U.S. Open title with a stellar par save from a difficult bunker shot on the 18th, the day arguably belonged as much to McIlroy’s putting woes as to DeChambeau’s triumph.
At 35 years old, McIlroy has been notably struggling with short and mid-range putts in recent years, a flaw that has been a significant barrier to adding another major title to his resume.
His performance at Pinehurst, marked by critical missed putts, is unlikely to bolster his confidence as he continues to seek a return to his previous major-winning form.
