GEAROID HEGARTY has backed Rory McIlroy to "go on a spree" following his heartbreaking loss at the US Open.
The 35-year-old's ten-year wait for a Major title goes on after he suffered a dramatic capitulation at Pinehurst.
Costly missed putts on 16 and 18 opened the door for Bryson DeChambeau to capitalise at the end of an extraordinary final round.
Limerick hurler and golf aficionado Hegarty was watching the tournament from afar, with the 2020 Hurler of the Year deeming it a "horrible one".
The St Patrick's titan said: “Jesus, I was absolutely glued to it for the four days.
“I don't know. It's a tough one. It's a horrible one.
“It's one that'll probably be remembered forever.
"You always remember... remember your man, (Jean) van de Velde was it that kind of choked coming down the last at a British Open a number of years ago and it’s unfortunate.
“I'm sure he's absolutely as sick as a dog, I'm sure it'll take a long time for that.
"He can probably never get over that.
"But to flip it on its head, that horrible word that he choked that a lot of people are using, I'd imagine that he'll be incredibly determined the next day in the British Open to, you know, right the wrong."
McIlroy skipped media duties in the aftermath of the US Open.
Instead, he broke his silence on social media, revealing that he would be taking a break from golf until the Scottish Open.
Hegarty declared that he would not be surprised to see the Holywood man win the British Open, citing the fall-out from the 2011 Masters.
Thirteen years ago, a then-21-year-old held a one-shot lead at Augusta going down the back nine.
However, a triple bogey on 10 and double bogey on 12 ruined his chances as he finished in a tie for 15th.
He would bounce back from that to win the US Open two months later and would win his first of four Majors - the PGA Championship - in August the next year.
Hegarty added: “I think he's taken a few weeks off now until the Scottish Open, which is close to the British Open.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if he came out and won the British Open, which would be an incredible story because he had the meltdown at the Masters back, was it 2011?
"And then he went on a bit of a spree over the next couple years so it wouldn't surprise me if he came out and won the British Open.
“But God, I'd love to know where he is exactly after that because that was a devastating, devastating loss.
"I was devastated myself so I can only imagine what he feels.”
