If you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all.
That’s what Shane Lowry was preaching to fans on social media in the way they directed comments toward Rory McIlroy after his disastrous collapse during the final round at the U.S. Open on Sunday, allowing Bryson DeChambeau to take home the hardware at Pinehurst No. 2.
Since the devastating final three holes for McIlroy on Sunday, which saw him miss two putts — including one from three feet out — that proved costly, the Northern Irishman has seen a barrage of commentary on social media.
But Lowry preached to fans that they show some humanity for McIlroy.
“From the outside looking in… this game is easy. But in reality it’s the worst game of all,” Lowry wrote on X. “We are very fortunate to get what we do from this game but over the last 24 hours it’s hit me. We do it for not only ourselves but for our family, friends and fans.
“What Rory has gone through is as tough as it gets in our game but I would like to encourage people if anything please be kind.”
McIlroy hasn’t won a major since 2014, which made the latest close call for the famed golfer particularly painful.
Matthieu Pavon backed Lowry’s comments in a post on his Instagram Story.
McIlroy announced in a statement Monday that he would be taking a few weeks off, calling Sunday “probably the toughest [day] I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer.”
“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 wrote in a statement.
“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. 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.”
