Rory McIlroy Takes a Break After Heartbreaking US Open Collapse, Plans Return for

Rory McIlroy Takes a Break After Heartbreaking US Open Collapse, Plans Return for Scottish Open

Rory McIlroy has announced he will take a few weeks away from golf following a dramatic collapse during the final round of the US Open. McIlroy, who had a three-shot lead over eventual champion Bryson DeChambeau, faltered with bogies on three of his last four holes, missing crucial putts inside four feet on the 16th and 18th holes, resulting in a stunning loss of the lead.

In a statement released after skipping the post-tournament media session, McIlroy reflected on the challenging weekend.

“Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer,” McIlroy admitted. “Firstly, I’d like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that.”

Despite his previous outspoken criticism of golfers who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, including DeChambeau, McIlroy graciously acknowledged DeChambeau’s victory. DeChambeau, a crowd favorite, secured his second US Open title, adding to his growing reputation.

McIlroy, who last won a major championship in 2014, used his statement to reflect on his performance and find positives amid the disappointment.

“As I reflect on my week, I’ll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly the 2 missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day,” McIlroy wrote. “But, as I always do, I’ll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives. As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have. The one word that I would describe my career as is resilient. I’ve shown resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again.”

In his statement, McIlroy outlined his plans for the remainder of the 2024 season, announcing his intention to take a break before returning for the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon.

“I’m going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon,” he said. “See you in Scotland.”

McIlroy’s career boasts 26 wins on the PGA Tour and 17 on the European Tour. His major championship victories include two PGA Championships (2012 and 2014), a US Open win in 2011, and The Open Championship in 2014. Although a major win has eluded him for a decade, McIlroy’s recent successes, including a victory at the Wells Fargo Championship in May where he finished -17 under par, beating runner-up Xander Schauffele by five strokes, indicate that his form is not far off from another major triumph.

As McIlroy steps away to regroup, the golf world eagerly anticipates his return to competition, hopeful that his resilience will once again propel him to the pinnacle of the sport.