For all the early triumphs of Rory McIlroy’s career, there have been some devastating lows in his 10-year wait for a fifth major title. But Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open might have been the lowest of them all for Rory.
Heading to the 15th hole, McIlroy had built a two-stoke lead on Bryson DeChambeau and looked poised to win his first major since 2014. But then everything seemingly went wrong for McIlroy. He ended with three bogeys in the final four holes and missed two putts for par from inside five feet. Those misses ultimately put DeChambeau in position to win with his par on 18.
As he watched on from where he signed his scorecard, Rory had no interest in waiting around once his collapse was officially complete.
Within minutes of DeChambeau’s clinching putt, McIlroy was already in his courtesy vehicle and departing Pinehurst.
FAST exit for Rory. His greatest heartbreak yet? pic.twitter.com/3vEeOjSvtC
— Alan Bastable (@alan_bastable) June 16, 2024
I checked the metadata on my camera. This was less than five minutes after Bryson DeChambeau sank his par putt on 18. https://t.co/9pDQWcNpg0 pic.twitter.com/GmlqGUYwp8
— Mitchell Northam (@primetimeMitch) June 16, 2024
Video showed McIlroy taking off in the Lexus SUV and screeching his tires as he exited the course grounds. As the second-place finisher, McIlroy would have been expected to fulfill his media and broadcast obligations. But given the circumstance, he just wanted to get out of there.
Fans had thoughts on McIlroy’s hasty departure, though.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
Rory declined a NBC interview, per @DanHicksNBC and as seen here, has already left the course ⬇️ #USopen #golf https://t.co/EQUZ8hCLcV
— Jeremy Schilling (@jschil) June 16, 2024
Never drive angry kids https://t.co/8SUfZ9INLd
— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) June 16, 2024
This is so soft from Rory to skip the media. So soft. https://t.co/N3cG1lhG1k
— Kevin Maggiore (@MaggioreKevin) June 16, 2024
He was out real quick, don't blame him at all https://t.co/qVfmHzCEaY
— Dan Colucci (@coluccid2) June 16, 2024
There are going to be some *takes* about Rory peeling out of the lot this quickly.
That said, bad look to dip out and do no media like this no matter how crushing a loss. https://t.co/nMjK5lILEk
— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) June 16, 2024
I guess we won’t hear from Rory tonight.
(If the roles were reversed — and Bryson stormed off without speaking to the media — I can’t imagine all the think pieces we’d get) https://t.co/xKLWhepRL6
— Josh Graham (@JoshGrahamShow) June 16, 2024
Can’t blame him https://t.co/tl3AObx2Px
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) June 16, 2024
Rory taking off to avoid media presser – unprofessional. As they say, actions speak louder than words. https://t.co/wG6wtvINEs
— Peter Koutroumpis (@pksport) June 16, 2024
That’s a QUICK exit https://t.co/hslPW1aS4Z
— Brian Rauf (@brauf33) June 16, 2024
