Rory McIlroy gives incredibly sad insight into his life as professional golfer
Rory McIlroy has recently opened up about the immense pressures of professional golf, sharing how his intense dedication to the sport has often robbed him of the joy of his successes. This revelation comes in the wake of his recent heartbreak at the US Open, prompting him to vow to change his mindset moving forward.
In a rare retrospective look over his career, the 35-year-old Irishman provided insight into the demanding nature of golf at the elite level. McIlroy is still reeling from narrowly missing out on ending his decade-long drought for a fifth major championship. Last month, he finished runner-up at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, coming heartbreakingly close to victory.
In a dramatic turn of events, McIlroy, who had been leading with just five holes left, ultimately finished one shot behind eventual winner Bryson DeChambeau. The agonizing collapse was marked by McIlroy missing two short putts from his final three holes, handing the victory to his American rival in a stunning finish.
Since that painful loss, the four-time major winner has taken time for soul-searching, taking almost a month off before returning to the sport this week. At The Renaissance Club, he opened up to the Telegraph about his current state of mind: “I need to take a step back and appreciate what I’ve done in my career and in my life and enjoy my success. I don’t really enjoy my success – and I haven’t I would say for the last five.”
McIlroy continued, revealing just how relentless his schedule has been: “I haven’t been on a vacation in probably four or five years. So I think just stepping back and enjoying myself a little bit more away from my game is the thing. Have some fun. I live on a golf course and it’s so easy to just go out there at 7pm and hit a few balls. So I think being able to just get away from it and give yourself that free headspace of not thinking about golf is a good thing.”
Determined to find a balance, the world No. 2 shared his commitment to having more fun in the future: “I like travelling, I like seeing new places. Going up to New York after Pinehurst, I enjoy that. I enjoy eating at new restaurants and going to new vineyards and enjoying new wines. A bit of a foodie. I enjoy seeing new parts of the world.”
McIlroy’s achievements are already etched in the annals of golf history, with 26 events won on the PGA Tour. However, one glaring omission from his glittering career is the elusive green jacket at the Masters, with his closest attempt being a runner-up finish in 2022.
As he sets his sights on The Open at Royal Troon, McIlroy hopes his recent disappointment at the US Open can serve as a catalyst for ending his major championship drought, which has persisted since his 2014 US PGA Championship win. The Ulsterman remains keenly aware of just how close he came to glory at Pinehurst, using that near-miss as motivation for the challenges ahead.
