Michael Jordan's powerful message to Rory McIlroy after U.S. Open collapse

Rory McIlroy has shared that Michael Jordan reached out to him after his U.S. Open disappointment last month.

The Northern Irish golfer missed two crucial par putts in the final three holes at Pinehurst No. 2, including one on the 18th, resulting in Bryson DeChambeau winning the U.S. Open by a single stroke. This extended McIlroy's wait for his first major since 2014.

The 35-year-old appeared downcast as he swiftly left Pinehurst and only resumed playing at the Scottish Open last week. However, he asserts that he has moved past the heartbreak, thanks to encouragement from tennis star Rafael Nadal and basketball icon Jordan.

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"Rafa Nadal and Michael Jordan," said McIlroy when asked by The Guardian if any big names had got in touch. "Two of the most unbelievable competitors that have ever been in sport.

"MJ was maybe the first person to text me after I missed the putt on the 18th but both of them got in touch very, very quickly. They just told me to keep going. MJ reminded me of how many game-winning shots he missed. Really nice."

McIlroy is adamant that he won't let the disappointment weigh him down as he gears up for the Open Championship at Royal Troon this week. "Was it a great opportunity to win a major? Absolutely," he said. "It hurt and in the moment it was tough, terrible.

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"I’d say people would be surprised to see how quickly I got over it and moved on. 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."

Speaking ahead of the Scottish Open, McIlroy admitted his loss at Pinehurst wasn't the toughest career, siting his failure to win the Masters in 2011 and the Open in 2022. He told reporters: "It's been a while since I've won a major.

"It hurt but I felt worse after some other losses. I felt worse after Augusta in 2011 and I felt worse after St Andrews (in 2022). It was up there with the tough losses but not the toughest."