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Rory McIlroy and the Next Narrow Defeat: “Golf Tests My Resilience”

Just missed is also over: Rory McIlroy’s year of missed successes continued at the DP Word Tour’s flagship tournament in Wentworth. “The game is testing my resilience right now,” said the Northern Irishman after losing the play-off at the BMW PGA Championship to Billy Horschel, who had success over the regular distance on his hands when his ball rolled just millimetres past a winning hole-out eagle on the 72nd hole.

Rory McIlroy: “I’m Playing Well”

“It’s golf and I’m playing well,” McIlroy tried to maintain a stoic attitude: ”These things just happen. The game is challenging me a bit more than it has in the past, but that’s fine. If you look at my career as a 30-year journey, this is just one year in that journey. And anyway, there have certainly been years where I’ve felt worse.” However, the 35-year-old also admitted that he had become too accustomed to disappointment. No wonder, given the missed chances at the US Open, the Olympic Games and a week ago Sunday at the Irish Open home event at Royal County Down. McIlroy: “There are still quite a few years left on my journey and sooner or later the tide will turn if I keep playing like this.” The next opportunity will come at the Dunhill Links Championship; and in any case, everything looks as if “Rors” will secure the DP World Tour Order of Merit again at the end of the season – for the sixth time.

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Olympics 2024: Why Is Rory McIlroy Competing for Ireland?

As in Tokyo 2020, Rory McIlroy has once again decided to compete for Ireland at the Olympic Games. McIlroy comes from Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and should therefore actually be competing for Great Britain. However, there is an exemption for athletes from Northern Ireland.

Rory McIlroy chooses Ireland for the 2024 Olympics

Northern Ireland has a unique position in international sport. Olympic athletes from Northern Ireland have the opportunity to compete for either the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain and Northern Ireland (effectively the United Kingdom). This choice reflects the complex and divided history of the region. “Team GB” is the name under which athletes from Great Britain compete at the Olympics, a name that does not directly include Northern Ireland. There have been calls in the past to rename the team ‘Team UK’ to reflect this inclusion.

McIlroy, who always played under the Irish flag in his youth, chose Ireland despite saying he felt more British. “I made it more difficult for myself than it needed to be,” McIlroy explained. “My thoughts were more about what other people would think. Once I put that behind me and just did what was right for me, the decision became easy. It was an internal battle with all those thoughts.” He continued, “Once I gave up trying not to upset anyone, the decision was pretty easy. I’m going to play golf for the country or nation I’ve always played for, from my junior and amateur days through to the professional game. Although the Olympics give me that choice, there really wasn’t a choice because I’ve played golf for Ireland all my life. Why should that change just because the tournament changes? That was my decision.”

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Panorama

Rory McIlroy Takes Break Following Heartbreaking US Open 2024 Defeat

The Northern Irish golfer took to X on Monday to reveal that he is stepping back temporarily following a disappointing performance at the US Open 2024. McIlroy, who boasts four Major titles, plans to take a few weeks off to recover mentally and physically.

A Painful Loss at the US Open 2024

McIlroy endured a tough defeat at the US Open 2024 in Pinehurst, missing out on his first Major win in nearly a decade. With a two-shot lead and five holes to play, McIlroy seemed poised for victory. However, bogeys on the 16th and 18th holes cost him dearly. The most painful moments came with two missed short putts: a 75-centimeter putt on the 16th hole and a 1.1-meter putt on the 18th, ultimately costing him the title.

McIlroy’s Reaction and Break Announcement

In a statement on X, McIlroy announced his decision to take a break, returning only for the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open. Reflecting on his loss, McIlroy emphasized looking at the positives despite the setbacks. “I have always shown resilience and will do so again,” said McIlroy. He added, “Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer.” Despite the missed putts that cost him the title, McIlroy highlighted, “The positives of the week far outweigh the negatives.”

Seventeen Years of Professional Golf: A Retrospective

McIlroy has been a professional golfer for nearly two decades, starting with a spectacular win at the US Open in 2011, followed by several other Major titles. However, since his victory at the 2014 PGA Championship, he has been chasing another Major win. Despite numerous top-10 finishes in recent years, the breakthrough has eluded him. After missing the crucial putts on the 16th and 18th holes, McIlroy left Pinehurst No. 2 without speaking to the media.

Bryson DeChambeau Wins the US Open 2024

Bryson DeChambeau claimed his second US Open title, making a decisive pitch from a fairway bunker onto the 18th green and sinking the winning putt. In his statement, McIlroy congratulated DeChambeau, calling him a “worthy champion.” McIlroy departed the course shortly after the tournament concluded without addressing the media. “Firstly, I’d like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now,” said McIlroy.

Support from Peers and Fans

McIlroy received an outpouring of support from colleagues and fans on social media. Shane Lowry, who won the Zurich Classic with McIlroy this year, wrote on X: “From the outside looking in, this game looks easy. But in reality, it’s the toughest of all.” Billy Horschel, speaking of his own struggles, called McIlroy “the greatest player of my generation.”

Future Plans for Rory McIlroy

McIlroy will take several weeks off to prepare for upcoming tournaments. The Genesis Scottish Open, which he won in 2023, starts on July 11, followed by The Open at Royal Troon on July 18. McIlroy hopes to return stronger and end his nearly ten-year Major drought. “I’ll take some time to process everything and build up for my title defense at the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open,” McIlroy explained.

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US Open 2024: Praise for DeChambeau & Criticism of McIlroy – The Online Reactions

The final day of the US Open 2024 was not just a duel between Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy, but for many spectators it was also a duel between the USA and Europe, between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour and ultimately also between a new fan favorite and another Major-disappointment. Because: McIlroy’s final round left most fans with a bad aftertaste in two respects. Golf fans on social media were not only disappointed by the Northern Irishman’s renewed failure, but also by his unsportsmanlike behavior after DeChambeau’s triumph. The latter, on the other hand, was celebrated online.

US Open 2024: Fan Favorite DeChambeau and persistent LIV criticism

After Bryson DeChambeau’s dramatic victory at the US Open 2024, social media was full of congratulations and praise for the 30-year-old, who made a particularly big impression with his incredible bunker shot and the up-and-down on 18. At the press conference, DeChambeau himself spoke of the “shot of his life” and the internet seems to share this opinion. For example, the user ‘Hunter Chandley’ wrote on X (Twitter): “Will go down as one of the best up and downs in golf history. Incredible.”

With shots like these, the LIV golfer not only earns praise, but also makes fans of the PGA Tour like X-user ‘JB Nawrocki’ long for his comeback: “Please come back to the PGA TOUR..that was an incredible up and down!”

The split between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour was also a big topic on social media and generated a lot of discussion. While some fans saw DeChambeau’s triumph as confirmation of the strength of the LIV Tour, others thought the 30-year-old should not have been allowed to take part in the first place. Thomas Cook wrote on X: “Need to get rid of all auto qualifiers for LIV players.”

In addition to clear announcements such as “LIV 1 PGA Tour 0” by Bradley Sherman on X, puns such as “We LIV for this”, “LIV, laugh, love” and “Long LIV King Bryson” also became more frequent. On a dramatic final day, not only did Bryson DeChambeau win his second major title, but LIV Golf once again made a strong case for the strength of the tour. Rory McIlroy, on the other hand, caused disappointment in the social media.

US Open 2024: Fans criticize McIlroy’s unsportsmanlike behavior

While Bryson DeChambeau is increasingly becoming a fan favorite after his victory at the US Open 2024, fans on social media are predominantly criticizing Rory McIlroy and his quick disappearance after the bitter final day defeat. The X-account ‘Pro Golf Weekly’, for example, writes: “Even worse than missing two tap-in pars to lose the US Open, Rory McIlroy refused to shake Bryson DeChambeau’s hand and or congratulate the 2024 champion. He also ignored fans as he burned rubber and left the property. Classless!”

However, the aforementioned putting chances that Rory McIlroy almost missed miserably are also causing a lot of talk online and are already being attributed to the Northern Irishman as a typical failure. McIlroy has now been winless at the majors for ten years and was possibly closer to victory at this year’s US Open than he has been for a long time. X-user ‘indigo spannerworks’ wrote: “That will haunt McIlroy for the rest of his career. Missing 2, 3 ft putts in the last 4 holes is criminal for a pro golfer.”

This opinion was shared by user ‘Franklin Sinclair’ with “As usual Rory threw it away” and ‘Albert NANA’ with “Unbelievable and Heartbreaking So close once again but …”

The US Open 2024 was a tournament that certainly deserved two winners in Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy. But in the end, it was DeChambeau’s nerves of steel that decided the major, while McIlroy failed on the green. The two stars will meet again in just under a month’s time at The Open in Royal Troon, where the Northern Irishman will have another chance to win his first major in ten years.

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US Open 2024: Frosty Final Round For Rory McIlroy

The 124th US Open has set the stage for a thrilling final showdown at Pinehurst No. 2. While many eyes might be on the final pairing of Bryson DeChambeau and Matthieu Pavon, golf aficionados know the real drama lies in the group just ahead, where Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay will tee off at 2:10 PM local time.

Rory McIlroy joins Patrick Cantlay for the final round of the US Open 2024

This pairing is not just about golf; it’s a saga of personal friction and competitive fire. Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish superstar, has had a notably tense relationship with Cantlay. McIlroy has publicly referred to Cantlay in less-than-flattering terms, calling him a “dick”. This comment alone set the stage for what promises to be an intense round. The tension doesn’t stop there. Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava, and McIlroy had a heated exchange during the Ryder Cup in Rome. The incident escalated on the green and nearly turned physical later at the Marco Simone clubhouse, if not for the intervention of fellow golfer Shane Lowry. This background drama only adds to the intrigue of their pairing.

As they step onto the course, the atmosphere is expected to be frosty. The hot temperatures in North Carolina are also not helping to cool the heated situation down. Cantlay, known by his nickname “Patty Ice,” is reputed for his calm demeanor under pressure, but this final round will test both his and McIlroy’s composure. Fans can expect a highly charged encounter, where every glance and every word exchanged will be scrutinized. The dynamic between McIlroy and Cantlay could very well impact their performance on this challenging course. Both golfers are known for their skill and tenacity, but personal animosity can either fuel exceptional performance or lead to critical mistakes.

As the final round unfolds, all eyes will be on this duo. Will McIlroy channel his frustration into a stellar performance, or will Cantlay’s icy calmness prevail? The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: The drama, the stakes, and the personalities involved ensure that this will be a round talked about for long.

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US Open 2024 – McIlroy: “I’ve Got A Great Chance Going Into Tomorrow”

Rory McIlroy put himself in a good position for the final day of the US Open 2024 with a round of 69 on Moving Day. Apart from a bogey on the sixth hole, the third round looked even better for the Northern Irishman up to the 14th hole thanks to four birdies. However, McIlroy lost two strokes on the last four holes and finished the round one stroke under par and in tied second place with Matthieu Pavon and Patrick Cantlay. After 65-72-69, McIlroy goes into the final day three strokes behind the leader Bryson DeChambeau.

US Open 2024 – McIlroy: “A really difficult U.S. Open Saturday”

Q. Rory McIlroy, 1-under 69. What are the biggest takeaways from today?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, just a really difficult U.S. Open Saturday. I think everything we expected it to be. The course is getting crispy. Some of the pin positions are pretty tricky. Felt like a lot of them were cut on little crowns. There was a lot of uphill putts but then after the hole it went downhill, so pretty tricky to get the pace right. It caught me out a couple times. I love the test that Pinehurst is presenting, and you’ve got to focus and concentrate on every single shot out there. It’s what a U.S. Open should be like. It’s obviously great to be in the mix.

Q. How closely have you been watching the leaderboard over the last five minutes?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, very closely. I did an interview with NBC there, and while I was doing it, they were showing Bryson on 16, so I know what happened there. The last few holes are playing very, very difficult. Even 17, it’s downwind, but with that pin cut at the front, it’s hard to get that ball close, and even on 18 where that hole location is. No matter what happens, I feel like two shots, three shots, four shots, I’ve got a great chance going into tomorrow.

Q. You talked about embracing the difficulty of this golf course this week. Has that been tested at all, and how encouraging is it that this is the result?

RORY McILROY: I think I’m embracing the questions that the golf course asks of you. I think there’s holes where you have to be aggressive. There’s holes where you have to be conservative. There’s hole locations that you can take on and hit wedges close to. There’s hole locations you’ve got to stay away from. It tests your chipping. It tests your putting. It obviously tests your mental fortitude more than any other golf tournament. As I said at the start of the week, it’s a style of golf that I’ve started to try and embrace over these last few years, and it’s the reason that my performances at the U.S. Open have been much improved over the last half a decade.

Q. Were you sort of pushing to get in the last group with Bryson? Does that matter much at this point? Just overall either way, your shot at getting the fifth major tomorrow, how do you feel about it?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I’m excited about it. It would have been nice to hole that putt at the last and get to 5-under and break out of that logjam at 4. Pros and cons. Pros and cons to being in the last group, and maybe playing one group ahead mightn’t necessarily be a bad thing. I’m pretty much in the same position that I was last year going into the final day at LACC. So familiar position, been here many times before, and hopefully tomorrow I produce the golf that’s needed to go one better.

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US Open 2024: Rory McIlroy Tied For the Lead

Rory McIlroy had a fantastic first day at the US Open 2024, making back-to-back birdies on the front nine to move into the upper reaches of the leaderboard on a difficult course. And the Northern Irishman also managed further stroke gains on the second half of the course. McIlroy scored the most important birdie on the last hole. His third birdie on the back nine moved him into a share of the lead with Patrick Cantlay. The world number three remained error-free for the entire round.

McIlroy Shares the Lead at the US Open 2024

THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to the interview area. We’re here with Rory McIlroy. 5-under 65, bogey free. How were you able to keep a clean card out there?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, I think I was saying at the start of the week, my approach at the U.S. Opens over the last few years have — I guess I’ve had some success by the sort of mindset that I’ve brought in, especially last year at LACC. The golf course is a little different to what it was last year, but still the same strategy, same mindset.

Just trying to hit it into the middles of greens and giving yourself chances every single time, taking your medicine if you do hit it into trouble.

My short game was good early on. I chipped in at 5 and had a really good up-and-down on 6, another really good up-and-down on 8. But apart from that, I think I hit every other green. It was a really controlled round of golf.

Q. 15 greens in regulation. How important is it to stay pin high out there?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, that’s the other thing. You’ve got to get lucky. I had a lot of really good numbers today where I could just go ahead and hit full shots. Whenever you’re hitting full shots into these greens, the ball is going to stop a little quicker than if you have to take something off or hit little three-quarter shots.

Some days you have good numbers and some days you don’t, and for the most part today, I’ve had good numbers.

Q. At the Masters you were talking about watching Scottie and how he made it look so easy. Another big pairing today. Was it nice to be the one putting on the show?

RORY MCILROY: I guess, in a way. It’s not just the Masters that we’ve been watching Scottie do his thing. But yeah, absolutely.

I enjoy playing in these groups. When you’ve been out here for, whatever it is, 16 or 17 years, sometimes you need a little extra to get the juices going, and being in a group like that definitely helps.

Q. You referenced again that stretch of U.S. Opens where you didn’t have it going so well. Were you not embracing what the U.S. Open is during those years, and what finally got you back on track?

RORY MCILROY: No, I didn’t. If you look at the U.S. Open that I did win in ’11, it was more like a PGA Championship rather than a U.S. Open, typical U.S. Open setup.

I really don’t think I embraced U.S. Open setups probably 10 years into my U.S. Open career. Played my first one in ’09, and I think I really changed my mindset around them in 2019, that one in Pebble, and then since then I’ve — I’ve also started to enjoy this style of golf a lot more.

It’s a lot different than the golf that we play week in, week out. I really appreciate that, and I’ve started to appreciate golf course architecture more and more as the years have went on, and I’ve started to read more about it and understand why golf course architects do certain things and design courses the way that they do.

Just becoming more of a student of the game again, and I think because of that I’ve started to embrace golf courses like this and setups like this.

Q. There was a lot of talk at the start of the week about possibly borderline greens. Tiger used the phrase “war of attrition.” How did you feel the setup was today? Do you think they got it just about spot on?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, I think so. I think we got lucky, as well. There was a lot of humidity early in the day, and then there was quite a lot of cloud cover the whole way through the day so it kept the golf course from getting too fiery.

Selfishly for me, getting back out there in the morning, it’s going to be nice. Hopefully the clouds clear away and it’s a nice clear day for the guys in the afternoon.

But it definitely wasn’t quite as fiery as I expected it to be this afternoon, which has yielded some decent scores.

Q. I don’t recall you walking in a lot of putts all that often, but on 18, you walked that one right in. How satisfying is it to have that walk-off birdie at the end and get a share of the lead?

RORY MCILROY: I thought I’d left it short. That’s why I walked off it. Full disclosure. It looked good, though.

I think there was a stretch there on the back nine, I birdied 10 and then hit a good shot into 11, made par, good shot into 12, made par, good shot into 13, made par, good shot into 14, made par, and I was on this run of hitting it to 20 feet and two-putting.

I actually had a good two-putt on 15. But I just felt like my patience — I could have got a little impatience, but I felt like my patience was rewarded there with birdies on two of the last three holes. It was really nice to finish like that. As I said, a nice bit of momentum going into the morning round tomorrow.

Q. Did you watch any of the morning to see anything about the golf course?

RORY MCILROY: No, I don’t like watching — I just don’t like watching coverage before I go out to play.

Q. You had a great chance to win last year’s U.S. Open. I’m wondering what’s changed in your golf game and your emotional makeup since then?

RORY MCILROY: Nothing. Same person.

Q. Anything in your game, anything technical?

RORY MCILROY: No. Not really, no. I feel like I’m the same player. I was hitting the ball really good. I’d say if anything, I’d say my iron play is maybe a touch better this year than it was last year, just looking at the stats. But overall I feel like I’m pretty much the same golfer.

Q. This course obviously brings out some — requires some different shots and puts you in some weird spots. What does it bring out in you as a golfer or in your game that you find exciting. Just gives us a different look than what we play week in, week out. It’s different. It’s exciting. You have to be a little more creative and imaginative.

It sort of brings me back to links golf when I was a kid a little bit. The greens are a bit more sort of slopey and there’s a bit more movement on them. But there’s options. You can chip it. You can putt it.

I’d love if we played more golf courses like this.

Q. I know you always come into this week with a plan and some thoughtfulness. Is there a specific theme for this week that you’ve returned to mentally to reorient yourself?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, I think just super conservative with my strategy and my game. I think with my demeanor, just trying to be super stoic. Just trying to be as even-keeled as I possibly can be. I really feel like that’s the thing that has served me well in these U.S. Opens over the past few years.

Just trying to be 100 percent committed to the shots and 100 percent committed to having a good attitude.

Q. You’ve often spoken about the need for good starts to major championships. I just wonder how gratifying this feels to have posted the score that you have.

RORY MCILROY: Yeah. It’s been good. I went through a run there for a while where my starts at major championships weren’t very good. Probably got myself a little too worked up at the start of the week.

But yeah, even back to the PGA, I opened with a 5-under there at Valhalla. Felt like I played okay. First day at Augusta, even going all the way back to this tournament last year, opened with a low one. Wasn’t quite as low as Rickie and Xander, but it was nice to open up with a low one and feel like you’re right in the tournament from the first day.

Certainly the major championships that I’ve won or the ones that I’ve played well at, I’ve always seemed to get off to a good start, and it’s nice to get off to another one.

 
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Rory McIlroy: “Explosiveness Isn’t Going to Win the US Open 2024”

Rory McIlroy looks forward to an interesting competition on one of the toughest US Open courses. Before the start of the 2024 US Open the golfer talks about his game state and his bigger career goals, as well as Scottie Schefflers impressive season.

US Open 2024 – Rory McIlroy “Can Still Be Europe’s Most Successful Player”

Q: How does it feel to be back at a U.S. Open?

RORY McILROY: It feels good. I’ve been on a pretty good run of U.S. Open performances over the last few years. Obviously had a close call at LACC last year, obviously Wyndham just pipping me to the post there.

But I feel like I really struggled at U.S. Open setups, 2016, ’17, ’18 in particular. I sort of had a bit of a I guess come-to-Jesus moment after that, tried to really figure out why that was.

Then my performances from 2019 and after that have been really, really good.

Q. Based on either gut feeling or analysis of strokes gained or talks with Harry or your previous experience here in 2014, between now and Thursday afternoon, what part of your game are you most focused on?

RORY McILROY: I think it’s course-dependent. I would say for this golf course, it will be around the greens. From what I remember in 2014, it’s obviously generous off the tee in terms of the playing corridors that you’re asked to hit it into. If you hit it outside of those, you can get yourself into trouble, this sandy waste area.

Like most Donald Ross courses, it’s on and around the greens where I’m going to have to sort of do the most work and sort of figure out what shots to hit around greens.

Obviously Martin here 10 years ago used the putter very, very well. Sort of figuring out what I’m comfortable with on and around the greens. I think that will be the big key over the next sort of 36 hours.

Q. You mentioned the last five years, all top 10s, all improvement. Is there one theme to that? Is there something in terms of game plan at different venues that you’ve applied that is reflected in these results, improving every year?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I would say embracing the difficult conditions, embracing the style of golf needed to contend at a U.S. Open, embracing patience. Honestly, embracing what I would have called “boring” back in the day.

Explosiveness isn’t going to win a U.S. Open. It’s more methodically building your score over the course of four days and being okay with that.

Honestly, it’s just more of a reframing of a mindset than anything else.

Q. You’ve spoken about the importance of the short game here at Pinehurst. We always talk about you and talk about your prowess off the tee. That’s the sort of thing that commands the headlines. Do you think your wedge play, which is actually sensational, gets a little overlooked? How much fun is that aspect of the game to you?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I think when you excel, especially at one part of the game, there’s other parts of the game that get overlooked a little bit. I feel like I’ve turned myself into a pretty proficient player around the greens. I’ve always been a pretty good chipper of the golf ball. Bunker play has been solid for most of my career. I feel like I’ve turned myself into a really good putter over the past sort of four or five years.

But yeah, the driving is what people are interested in when they watch me hit a golf ball. That’s fine. But it takes more than driving a golf ball to win the amount of tournaments that I have.

Yeah, I feel like all aspects of my game are in pretty good shape at the minute.

Q. Can you talk about Padraig Harrington getting inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

RORY McILROY: Padraig, he’s the quintessential pro. He’s also a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf around the world, anywhere he goes.

I think from someone that grew up in that part of the world, aspiring to be one of the best golfers in the world, Padraig was the one, I’ve said this before, but he was the one that opened the floodgates for us and made us believe we could follow in his footsteps. Winning in Carnoustie in 2007, then winning those two majors back-to-back in 2008, I think myself Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke, Shane Lowry, a lot of us, we looked at him and saw him achieving things that we wanted to achieve, and it sort of made us believe a little bit more that we could.

I think he really paved the way for us in some way. No one more deserving. As I said, he’s a wonderful ambassador for the game. Probably loves the game of golf more than I do in some ways. He’s a relentless practicer and tinkerer, always trying to figure out ways to get better.

Yeah, as I said, no one more deserving than Padraig.

Q. What is the most impressive to you about what Scottie Scheffler’s been able to accomplish so far this year?

RORY McILROY: The fact that the only thing that took him from winning a golf tournament was going into a jail cell for an hour (laughter).

I think just the relentlessness. Look, a lot of stuff went on in his life, as well. They’ve just had a new child. He’s been through some struggles in his game, particularly the putter that he’s been able to turn around, as well.

It’s not as if he hasn’t had his challenges along the way, or circumstances have been a little bit different for him. But yeah, I mean, the word that I describe it as is “relentless.” It seems like every time he shows up, he is the guy to beat, and deservedly so.

This run that he’s been on, I think he’s played 14 times this year or 13 times this year, only once out of the top 10. Seems like he’s always in contention.

The most exciting thing about last week at Memorial was when he made the triple on 9. Everyone was like, oh, looks like he might let people in here, but he finds a way to steady the ship, make a few birdies when he needs to. Undoubtedly the best player in the world at the minute by a long way.

It’s up to us to try to get to his level.

Q. I don’t remember what tournament it was, but you were in the broadcast booth and said, Maybe he should try a mallet. Do you regret giving him that idea?

RORY McILROY: Well, he tried the Spider last summer for a couple of tournaments. But I think the work that he’s put in with Phil Kenyon as well, I think that’s a big part of it. I know they started to work sort of after the FedExCup Playoffs last year. Obviously the work they’ve done has really been paying off.

Q. You’re drawn with Scottie and Xander again. Is there any advantage to being with those two guys or a disadvantage, get caught up in playing them rather than just concentrating on the golf course?

RORY McILROY: I mean, if they’re playing well and I try to keep up with them, I guess it’s a good thing.

No, I mean, it’s always exciting to be a part of a marquee group like that, No. 1, 2 and 3 in the world. I remember back in the day, I think it was Torrey Pines, watching on TV, I failed to qualify for that tournament. But I remember I think watching Tiger, Phil and Adam Scott the first two days.

It’s cool to be part of these pairings. I think at this point, Scottie, Xander and myself are all experienced enough not to get caught up in it, just to go about our business, try to shoot a couple good scores to put ourselves in position going into the weekend.

Q. You said earlier you kind of found U.S. Open golf a little boring at one point. Pinehurst asks some different questions than most other U.S. Open courses. Do you like that kind of examination where maybe it gives you some kind of a chance to recover better than out of really thick rough?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, because it gives you options and it gives you, like, even going back to last week at Memorial, people hit it offline or people hit a green, you’re basically only seeing players hit one shot. There’s only one option. That turns into it being somewhat one-dimensional and honestly not very exciting.

I think a course like this definitely demands a different skill set and also some creativity. I think that will be on display this week. I’ve already seen some videos online of people maybe trying fairway woods or having lob wedges or putters. Even if you get half lucky and get a decent lie in that wire grass, sandy area, being able to hit a recovery shot.

I think for the viewer at home, that’s more exciting than seeing guys hack out of four-inch rough all the time. Hopefully that comes to fruition and it is an exciting golf tournament.

Q. I think so many golfers talk about the importance of like the current shot or the current tournament that you’re playing. Do you still set career goals? Do you have an idea of numbers or accomplishments that you want to achieve before you hang it up?

RORY McILROY: Not particularly. I mean, I’ve always said I still feel like being the most successful European in the game is within my reach. I’ve got obviously Seve and Nick Faldo to pass there in terms of major wins.

I’m really proud of my body of work over the past 15 years and everything that I have achieved, whether it be season-long titles or individual tournaments or majors. Obviously getting my hands on a fifth major has taken quite a while, but I’m more confident than ever that I’m right there, that I’m as close as I’ve ever been.

I wouldn’t say I’ve got, like, a particular number of wins. I mean, I want to win as many golf tournaments as I can. I want to try to compete and win as many majors as I can.

I think the only thing about trying to pick a number is that you’re setting yourself up for failure or disappointment. Tiger wanted to surpass Jack. It looks like he mightn’t get there, but are we going to call Tiger’s career a failure? Absolutely not. It’s arguably the best. He’s played the best golf anyone’s ever seen.

There’s always going to be that tinge of what could have been. I don’t want to do that to myself. If someone would have told me at 20 years old I’d be sitting here at 35 and this is the career I’ve had, I would not have believed them and I would have been ecstatic.

Still have a good a little bit of time here, hopefully for the next 10 years. I still like to think I’ve got a good run ahead of me. Whatever those numbers are, whatever the totals add up to, I’ll accept that and feel like I’ve done pretty well for a little boy from Northern Ireland that dreamed of playing golf for a living one day.

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Equipment Highlights Tours

US Open 2024 – Rory McIlroy WITB with TaylorMade

Rory McIlroy had a good season start with his win at the Wells Fargo Championship 2024. At the first two majors the Northern Irishman couldn’t live up to the hipe and is still in line for his next major title. We take a look at his equipment for the US Open 2024.

US Open Golf 2024: WITB Rory McIlroy

(Image: TaylorMade)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9°)
(Image: TaylorMade)
Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15°, 18°)
(Image: TaylorMade)
Irons: TaylorMade P Series Proto (4) Irons: TaylorMade P730 Rors Proto (5-9)
(Image: TaylorMade)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (46, 50, 54, 60)
(Image: TaylorMade)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X
(Image: TaylorMade)
Ball: TaylorMade TP5X
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Panorama

Tabloids Speculate about Rory McIlroy’s Divorce

The British golf media are speculating about the separation between Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll; the four-time major winner filed for divorce the day before arriving at the PGA Championship in Valhalla. The obvious explanation is that the couple had grown apart. Either because the professional was focussing too much on golf and his wife consequently felt neglected and only concentrated on their daughter Poppy. Or because Erica Stoll had only taken care of their child since Poppy was born on 31 August 2020, which made the golfer feel left behind and bury himself in work.

Rumour: McIlroy’s love affair with CBS presenter

The rumour of a love affair between “Rors” and “CBS” golf presenter Amanda Balionis (38), who is married to football coach Bryn Renner but has not worn a wedding ring since the Masters, is also persistent, as is the case with juicy aspects. As she has also dropped the Renner suffix from her actual double name on her social media accounts, the tabloids, which even tracked Erica Stoll on her way to the nail salon (“Daily Mail”), are sensing amorous reasons for McIlroy’s move and are also said to have identified particularly affectionate interviews between Balionis and the golf star.