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McIlroy Describes U.S. Open Final Round as the Toughest Day in His Career
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    McIlroy Describes U.S. Open Final Round as the Toughest Day in His Career

    Rory McIlroy has broken his silence following the final round of the U.S. Open calling Sunday “probably the toughest” day in his entire career.

    McIlroy was in position to snap his decade-long drought at the majors with a one-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau only to make a pair of uncharacteristic misses on short putts during the final three holes.

    The 35-year-old McIlroy, who hadn’t missed a putt within four feet all tournament until that point, could only watch as DeChambeau claimed the championship by a single stroke.

    McIlroy was spotted leaving Pinehurst No. 2 immediately in an SUV, spinning his tires in the gravel, without addressing the media.

    “Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer,” McIlroy said in a note posted to social media. “Firstly, I’d like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that.

    “As I reflect on my week, I’ll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly the two missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day. But, as I always try to do, I’ll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives. As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have. The one word that I would describe my career as is resilient. I’ve shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again.”

    McIlroy plans to take a few weeks away from golf to “process everything and build (himself) back up” as he prepares for the Scottish Open plus the fourth and final major of the season, the British Open, which will take place July 18–21 at the Royal Troon Golf Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland.

    That means he will skip the Travelers Championship, the final $20 million signature event on the PGA Tour schedule with a limited field and no cut.

    Although McIlroy has captured four majors in his career, he hasn’t won one since the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.

    He also finished runner-up at the U.S. Open last year when it was held at the Los Angeles Country Club.

    The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland has had a rough time outside the ropes, too. He filed for divorce from his wife, Erica, before the PGA Championship, and then filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss the divorce case right before the U.S. Open.

    “He’ll win multiple more major championships. There’s no doubt,” DeChambeau told reporters. “That fire in him is going to continue to grow. I have nothing but respect for how he plays the game of golf because, to be honest, when he was climbing up the leaderboard, he was two ahead, I was like, ‘Uh-oh, uh-oh.’ But luckily things went my way today.”

    — With files from the Associated Press

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    Rory McIlroy leaves in a huff after costly misses at U.S. Open

    Rory McIlroy, one of the top golfers in the world, recently described the final round of the U.S. Open as the toughest day in his career. The 32-year-old Northern Irishman has had his fair share of challenges on the golf course, but he admitted that the conditions at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego made for an especially grueling day.

    McIlroy started the final round of the U.S. Open just two shots off the lead, giving him a good chance to capture his second U.S. Open title. However, he struggled from the beginning, making a double bogey on the first hole and never really finding his rhythm. The windy conditions and thick rough at Torrey Pines made it difficult for McIlroy to find fairways and greens, leading to a frustrating round of golf.

    Despite his struggles, McIlroy fought hard and managed to finish the tournament in a tie for seventh place. While he was disappointed with his performance, he acknowledged that he had given it his all and that sometimes things just don’t go your way on the golf course.

    In a post-round interview, McIlroy spoke candidly about the challenges he faced during the final round of the U.S. Open. He admitted that he had never felt so uncomfortable on a golf course and that he had to dig deep to stay focused and keep fighting until the end.

    McIlroy’s honesty and vulnerability in discussing his struggles at the U.S. Open have endeared him to fans and fellow golfers alike. His willingness to open up about the mental and emotional challenges of professional golf only serves to humanize him and make him more relatable to fans.

    As McIlroy looks ahead to future tournaments, he will undoubtedly take the lessons learned from his tough day at the U.S. Open and use them to fuel his motivation and drive to succeed. While every golfer faces challenges on the course, it is how they respond to those challenges that ultimately defines their career. And Rory McIlroy’s response to the toughest day of his career shows that he has what it takes to bounce back and continue to compete at the highest level.