Rory McIlroy's true colours revealed with telling comment after huge disappointment

Rory McIlroy has opened up about the significance of the Paris Olympics in his quest to move beyond his major disappointments.

The 35-year-old golfer - who dramatically u-turned on a divorce with his wife Erica Stoll earlier this year - experienced a heartbreaking moment, nearly ending a decade-long wait for his fifth major title at the US Open . McIlroy seemed on the verge of triumph, but two heart-wrenching missed putts at the final stages on the 16th and 18th holes saw him relinquish his lead to Bryson DeChambeau in a gut-wrenching turn of events.

This marked the fourth time McIlory - who was briefly rumored to involved with a TV star during his seperation - had secured runner-up position at a major following his victory at the PGA Championship in 2014.

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After the defeat at the US Open, an evidently disheartened McIlroy took some time off from golf, aiming to rejuvenate his spirit and break his major tournament drought at The Open Championship in July. Yet, fortunes did not smile upon the Northern Irishman, who disappointingly missed the cut on the third day at Royal Troon.

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With the Olympic Games on the horizon, McIlroy is afforded another chance at success, separated from the pressure of his elusive major titles. While there's a lively discussion over the prestige of Olympic gold versus the four grand slam eventsconsidering golfs lengthy 112-year absence from the Games until its return in 2016McIlroy has expressed a fervent desire to represent Team Ireland in Paris.

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When questioned about the weight of winning an Olympic medal, McIlroy remarked, "It would be the achievement, certainly of the year," and went on to reflect, "I think for me, it's well documented that I haven't won one of the big four in 10 years. It would probably be one of, if not the biggest in my career for the last 10 years."

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McIlroy has acknowledged his recent disappointments, including his performance at the Open Championship and his decade-long wait for a fifth title. He is determined to prove that his poor showing at Royal Troon was an anomaly as he sets his sights on Olympic glory.

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"My focus is pretty high. The last time you guys saw me, I didn't give a very good account of myself [in the Open] at Troon," McIlroy confessed. "I want to make sure I'm right where I need to be teeing off on Thursday.

"I've been asked this question a lot, where would an Olympic medal sit in sort of the hierarchy of my career achievements and it's something I probably won't be able to answer until everything is said and done.

"I don't know if anything will be able to sit alongside the majors. We have our four events a year that are the gold standard. But I think this is going to be, in time, right up there among that.

McIlroy, who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in a play-off at the Tokyo Games, is representing Team Ireland alongside Shane Lowry. The Team GB contingent is comprised of Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick.