Although Rory McIlroy has tried to move past his infamous collapse at the U.S. Open, new insights from those once close to him suggest that personal issues, including a divorce dispute, may have impacted his performance.
McIlroy’s former agent, Andrew “Chubby” Chandler, speculated that the golfer might not have been fully focused on his game during that period. “Looking from the outside, and I haven’t seen Rory for a couple of years, but to me, it looks like his life is messy,” Chandler told the Daily Mail. “You know what it’s like as a sportsman, you have to have total focus and keep your mind on what you’re doing.”
In May, McIlroy filed for divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll, only to later revoke the decision. This personal turmoil shadowed him into his near-victory at Pinehurst No. 2 in mid-June. Despite leading for much of the tournament, McIlroy bogeyed three of the final four holes—the 15th, 16th, and 18th—allowing Bryson DeChambeau to surpass him and thus extending McIlroy’s major drought.
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Chandler also suggested that McIlroy’s ongoing battle with the PGA Tour against LIV Golf might have negatively affected his focus. “It looks like Rory has spent a year and a half fighting LIV for the PGA Tour, then the PGA Tour pulled the rug from under him,” Chandler explained. “Then he started talking about LIV not being too bad, then he had his marriage problems, and then he’s got such media scrutiny because he hasn’t won a major in 10 years.”
These off-course distractions seemed to carry over to McIlroy’s performance at the British Open at Scotland’s Royal Troon. McIlroy shot 13-over-par through his first nine holes on Friday, making it almost certain that he would miss the cut.
In addition to Chandler’s comments, McIlroy faced further criticism earlier in the week. His caddie, Harry Diamond, came under fire from the golf media following McIlroy’s disappointing finish and exit from the U.S. Open.
With two days left of competition, McIlroy needed a significant turnaround to avoid extending his major title drought, but the outlook seemed bleak.
As one of the world’s top golfers, McIlroy’s struggles highlight the immense pressure and scrutiny that come with professional sports, compounded by personal and professional challenges. His journey through these difficulties continues to be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
