It will be extremely difficult for Rory McIlroy to recover from his heartbreak at the US Open.
When Rory McIlroy returns to Major action at The Open Championship next month, he will have more than just the wounds from his US Open meltdown to overcome. Following the drama at Pinehurst, where he missed two short putts in the final three holes to give the victory to Bryson DeChambeau, the 35-year-old is currently taking a break from the game.
It means that Europe’s Ryder Cup hero will continue to wait for his first major title since 2014, and Royal Troon will be his next chance to end the curse.
The links course will host the 152nd Open from July 18–21. The defending champion, American Brian Harman, will be competing.
Two years prior, McIlroy had the lead going into the final round at St Andrews, but Cameron Smith’s outstanding final round overtook him. To further inflict more pain on the Northern Irishman, Cameron Young, who was charging at the last hole, eagled the hole to send him down to third place.
Even more ironically, McIlroy’s recent heartbreak coincides with another scorching performance—this time, it’s not at the US Open. Young, 27, enthralled spectators on Saturday at Pinehurst’s Travelers Championship with an 11 under 59.
For the first time in almost four years, he shot a sub-60 on the PGA Tour, with two eagles and seven birdies. Young became one of only thirteen men to accomplish the same feat.
It put him five shots behind Tom Kim, the overnight leader, and created the possibility of a thrilling finish. When Young birdied the first four holes of his final round, it appeared as though he would win easily.
That put him at 15 under for the round in just 22 holes, but he could not sustain his birdie burst. At 17-under-par, he eventually tied for ninth place, five shots behind Kim and Scottie Scheffler.
And after four extra holes in a thrilling play-off shootout, Scheffler emerged victorious. However, Young has issued a warning ahead of his attempt at Royal Troon. Young completed his historic 59 on Saturday by making a ten-foot putt on the final hole.
McIlroy will take note of the development because he may now have to contend with an additional opponent in order to win the fifth major championship he so desperately wants. He is ranked No. 2 in the world, behind Masters champion Scheffler, when he travels to Scotland.
McIlroy is anticipated to make a comeback to defend his title at the Genesis Scottish Open before then. Starting on July 11th, the competition is an ideal prelude to The Open Championship.
