Rory McIlroy has confessed that he may have made a mistake in not addressing the media after his heartbreaking loss at the U.S. Open, where he missed out on his first major victory in a decade.
The Northern Irish golfer was tantalizingly close to ending his 10-year dry spell as he led the tournament with just five holes remaining at Pinehurst No. 2 back in June. However, missing two short putts from his final three holes handed the win to Bryson DeChambeau in a thrilling conclusion to the event in North Carolina.
As his quest for a fifth major championship title - his last being the PGA Championship in 2014 - continues, he is setting his sights on the Open at Royal Troon, hoping to finally end his wait. Now, the 35-year-old has taken time to reflect on the U.S. Open and shared some insights into his mindset during his trip to Scotland.
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Reflecting on the aftermath of his disappointing finish at Pinehurst, he conceded that his decision to avoid the media might have been ill-advised. He told the Guardian : "Maybe the one drawback from me not talking [to media] afterwards was that you got three weeks of speculation."
"He should have done this, should have done that but we will never know because he didn't say'. I trust the people around me. I don't need to go looking for external counsel. If the tournament ended after 68 holes, people would be calling me the best golfer in the world."
Despite a tinge of regret, McIlroy is brimming with optimism as he sets his sights on clinching the Open, ten years after his victory at Royal Liverpool. He shared his positive outlook, stating: "You have to be an eternal optimist. Say you play 25 events a year and win three of those. You are one of the best players in history. We lose way more than we win."
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Reflecting on past disappointments, McIlroy maintained a balanced perspective, saying, "Yes, I was in a great winning position and should have won but it's not the first time I have let something slip away," acknowledging the ups and downs of his career. "It's probably not going to be the last. You have to look at it on the continuum. It was tough but it is one tournament."
With a busy schedule, he emphasized resilience, "I play 23-25 per year. You have to keep going. The great thing about this game is you have an opportunity to get back on the horse right after a tough loss. You try to learn from it and do better next time."
After nearly seizing the title previously, McIlroy commented on his approach: "I just took the initiative. I was less tentative and played with more freedom. I was more assertive, not as passive. At this point I would rather lose through trying to win it than lose it through trying not to lose. I haven't been as assertive over the past couple of years in the biggest tournaments."
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