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Rory McIlroy vows to bounce back from US Open heartbreak as he launches defence of caddie Harry Diamond after criticism
McIlroy launched into an impassioned defence of caddie Harry Diamond
RORY McILROY claims to have finished ‘stewing’ over his shocking US Open collapse.
And he vowed that he will show his ‘bouncebackability’ as he defends his Scottish Open title this week and then renews his bid for a first Major victory in ten years with The Open at Troon next time out.
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McIlroy recalled how he shrugged off his 2011 Masters meltdown — when he threw away a four-shot lead with a horrific final-round 80 — by powering to a stunning eight-shot victory at the US Open a couple of months later.
He said: “I look back on that final day at Pinehurst just like I look back on some of my toughest moments in my career.
“I’ll learn a lot from it and I’ll hopefully put that to good use.
“That is something that’s been a bit of a theme throughout my career.
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“I’ve been able to take those tough moments and turn them into great things not very long after that.
“I stewed on what happened at Pinehurst for a couple of days.
“But then, thankfully, I can go home and look at what I have achieved in the game and sort of feel OK about myself.
“Look, it was a great opportunity. It passed me by but hopefully when I get that next opportunity, it won’t pass me by.”
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McIlroy missed two short putts in the closing three holes to hand Bryson DeChambeau a one-shot victory at the US Open.
But he insisted that was not the most painful loss of his career.
Rory McIlroy speaking ahead of US Open heartache
The 2011 Masters and surrendering the 54-hole Open championship lead at St Andrews two years ago hurt much more.
The Holywood man added: “As you achieve more in the game, you can soften the blow.
“If you look at everything I’ve been able to accomplish, I’ve got a lot to be proud of myself about.
“It’s been a while since I’ve won a Major. It hurt but I felt worse after some other losses.
“I felt worse after Augusta in 2011, and I felt worse after St Andrews.
“This was up there with the tough losses but not the toughest.
“I got over it pretty quickly. The few days after it were pretty tough at times.
“But I feel like I’ve done a good job of thinking about it rationally and constructively and taking what I need from it and trying to learn from it.
“But for the most part it was a great day.
“I keep saying to people, it was a great day until it wasn’t!
“There are a couple things I would like to have back.
“But overall I can’t fault how I played or the game-plan that I had or how I handled myself throughout the tournament.
“I played a great first 14 holes at Pinehurst that Sunday. And now it’s just going to be nice to get back on the golf course, with two good opportunities to get myself back where I need to be, here and next week at Troon.”
McIlroy, 35, also launched into an impassioned defence of caddie Harry Diamond, who took a lot of flak after the late calamity at Pinehurst.
He blasted: “It’s certainly unfair. Just because Harry isn’t as vocal or loud with his words as other caddies, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t say anything and doesn’t do anything.
“I just wish that these guys that criticise when things don’t go my way . . . they never say anything good when things do go my way.
“Where were they when I won Dubai earlier this year or Quail Hollow or the Ryder Cup and two FedEx Cups that I’ve won with Harry?
“They are never there to say Harry did such a great job when I win, but they are always there to criticise when we don’t win.”