Rory McIlroy has finally addressed his stunning collapse at the U.S. Open.
McIlroy — who will take the next several weeks off, and has withdrawn from this week’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn. — exited Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina without speaking to reporters after losing a late lead to Bryson DeChambeau on Sunday, missing two short putts over the final three holes.
Monday, the 35-year-old Irish golfer shared a statement on X.
“Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer. 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,” McIlroy wrote.
“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. But, as I always try to do, I’ll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives.”
McIlroy on Sunday had a bogey on the 15th hole, a debilitating miss of a short putt for par on 16 and then another devastating missed putt on the final hole of the tournament.
“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 my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again,” McIlroy continued in his statement.
“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. See you in Scotland.”
McIlroy has won four majors in his professional golf career, but none since 2014.
He was spotted with his wife, Erica Stoll, and their 3-year-old daughter Poppy on Monday morning at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Fla., the couple’s first public sighting since McIlroy filed for divorce last month and subsequently dismissed the filing last week.
