Rory McIlroy admits to one major that still haunts him more than U.S. Open heartbreak

Rory McIlroy has confessed that his disappointment at narrowly missing out on the Open Championship title in 2022 is more profound than his recent dramatic loss at this year's US Open.

Despite being in the lead with only five holes remaining at Pinehurst Resort earlier this summer, he missed out on his first major win since 2014 after failing to make two short putts in his last three holes. This unexpected turn of events gave Bryson DeChambeau the opportunity to seize victory - a chance he took, leaving McIlroy devastated.

Currently, his quest for a fifth major championship extends back to the PGA Championship a decade ago. However, he hopes to recreate past successes at the upcoming Open at Royal Troon and break his losing streak. Yet, the winner of 26 PGA Tour events admits that one particular missed opportunity from the past ten years still haunts him.

READ MORE: Bryson DeChambeau's snub highlighted as Rory McIlroy sets sights on historic win
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy puts LIV Golf rivals on notice with reply to Open question

McIlroy has now revealed that his failure to secure the Open in 2022 remains the lowest point of his professional career so far. In that tournament, the Northern Irishman was leading with nine holes left when Cameron Smith made a comeback to snatch victory from McIlroy in another heart-wrenching conclusion.

Opening up about his emotional journey, McIlroy shared with the Guardian: "St Andrews hurt way more than this one. Oh my God. I didn't cry after this," revealing the depth of his disappointment. He elaborated on the sting of that loss, saying, "It is St Andrews. It is the Open. A threeshot lead on 10 ... it was the 150th. The crowd support I got there was unreal."

Reflecting on the agony of narrowly missing out on a major title at the US Open last June, he admitted, "Was it a great opportunity to win a major? Absolutely. It hurt and in the moment it was tough, terrible."

McIlroy dissected his performance, noting a particular self-awareness that may have affected his game: "I was too aware of what was happening behind me," he confessed. He also acknowledged a change in his routine, stating, "My pre-shot routine got a little long but it wasn't just that week. I had been feeling that for a while. You will see that before the US Open. In Canada or at Quail Hollow, I was starting to take extra looks."

Follow us on X for the best and latest in sports news

However, showing his unyielding spirit, McIlroy spoke optimistically about moving forward and his upcoming appearance at Royal Troon for the Open. He asserted, "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."

"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," he continued while maintaining a level-headed outlook on his bout of heartbreak back in June. "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."

CHECK OUT: HP Laptop on sale for Amazon Prime Day is 'fast', 'sleek' and 'built for performance'

Regarding his North Carolina performance, the 35 year old stated: "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."