Golf legend Sir Nick Faldo has admitted that Rory McIlroy will be haunted for life after the world No.3 blew the chance to win the US Open in Sunday’s final round at Pinehurst
Sir Nick Faldo believes the manner in which Rory McIlroy allowed the US Open to slip away from him will haunt the Ulsterman for life.
McIlroy, 35, surged into a two-shot lead on the back nine at Pinehurst after banking four birdies from five holes to leave him on the cusp of ending his long wait for a fifth major. However, the world No.3 recorded bogeys on three of his last four holes to gift Bryson DeChambeau victory.
Faldo, a six-time major winner, was providing commentary on the final round for Sky Sports and couldn’t hide his horror after McIlroy’s late collapse. The Brit summed it up perfectly, saying: “That’s going to haunt Rory for the rest of his life, those two misses.”
A distraught McIlroy made a swift exit in the aftermath of DeChambeau’s triumph and did not speak to the media. The American showed his class by expressing sympathy for his opposing number during his post-tournament interview.
“For him to miss that putt (on 18), I would never wish that on anybody,” DeChambeau said after shooting a final round of 71, leaving him six under par, one shot clear of McIlroy. “I think that fire in him is only going to continue to grow. He’s going to win more major championships.
“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.”
While DeChambeau was able to bask in the moment after landing his second major, McIlroy was left to reflect on what could have been after coming so close to landing his first major win since the PGA Championship back in 2014.
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