Golf
Rory McIlroy snubs US Open winner before fleeing course after ‘worst choke ever’
Rory McIlroy’s quest for glory at the US Open ended painfully, with the Northern Irishman opening the door for Bryson DeChambeau to claim victory over the last three holes
Rory McIlroy left Pinehurst moments after his final round collapse at the US Open with rival Bryson DeChambeau asking after his whereabouts, it has been claimed.
McIlroy was on the verge of his first major victory in a decade – and his fifth in total – going into the final few holes on Sunday. However, a pair of woeful putts in the final three holes saw him surrender victory to Bryson DeChambeau.
DeChambeau took a three-shot lead into the final round in North Carolina, only to allow McIlroy to take control. When the dust settled, though, it was the American who emerged victorious for his second major title.
It was a painful end to the week for McIlroy, with headlines earlier in the week dominated by the Ulsterman’s decision to call off his divorce and reconcile with wife Erica Stoll. He is understood to have immediately jetted off home after his painful one-shot defeat, returning to his wife and their young daughter.
According to The Telegraph, DeChambeau was left asking officials why he hadn’t seen McIlroy in the aftermath of the final round. The same publication pointed to DeChambeau’s own decision to wait around to shake the hand of Xander Schauffele after narrowly losing to his compatriot at the PGA Championship in May.
Footage on social media showed McIlroy watching DeChambeau hole out at the 18th to beat him by a single stroke before heading for the door. He is said to have then headed straight for the airport – before the winner had even begun his victory press conference.
Nevertheless, DeChambeau sympathised with his rival. “Rory is one of the best to ever play,” the American told reporters. “Being able to fight against a great like that is pretty special. For him to miss that putt, I’d never wish it on anybody. It just happened to play out that way.”
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Some of the fans and media following the action on social media appeared less sympathetic, though. “One of the worst choke jobs in the history of golf out of Rory McIlroy. Gifted Bryson DeChambeau that win on a silver platter,” wrote one.
“I played Pinehurst last year and know how hard the course and tough the greens are,” wrote another. “For everyone calling that a choke… it was a choke. Plain and simple. Sorry, Rory.”
“Gutted for Rory McIlroy, really expected to wake up and see him as winner,” was the response from a third. “Huge fan of his but unfortunately that’s an incredible choke from where he was with 3 to play. Still believe he’ll win at least another Major but that’ll haunt him for some time.”
The collapse came at the worst possible time for McIlroy, whose short game had been near-faultless in 2024. He had holed 496 consecutive putts of three feet or less in 2024, only to miss two in a row when it mattered at Pinehurst.
“Only one thing for Rory McIlroy here: own it,” wrote another, suggesting the “fightback starts at Troon”. That’s where the 2024 Open Championship takes place, with the first round getting underway on July 18.
“He’ll win multiple more major championships. There’s no doubt,” DeChambeau said of his rival. “I think that fire in him is going to continue to grow.
“I have nothing but respect for how he plays the game of golf because, to be honest, when he was climbing up the leaderboard, he was two ahead, I was like, ‘Uh-oh, uh-oh.’ But luckily things went my way today.”
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