Colin Montgomerie, a former European Ryder Cup captain, has provided GolfMagic with his assessment of Rory McIlroy’s post-loss behavior at the US Open.
Who knows what Rory McIlroy was thinking when Bryson DeChambeau crushed his heart in the US Open final?
However, it is not difficult to surmise that McIlroy’s inner monologue amounted to something along the lines of “For f— sake, not again.”
And as McIlroy made the decision not to stay and congratulate the American, one had to wonder what was going through his mind.
Within minutes after DeChambeau’s winning putt, McIlroy threw his clubs into the back of his courtesy car and was gone.
Once more, you could have been forgiven for believing that little voice in McIlroy’s head was telling him to screw hanging around to give Bryson a high five as the sound of the tires screeching.
“I already give enough, don’t care how this looks, screw the media. No one could despise me more than I do at this moment.
“No one.”
One golfer has firsthand knowledge of McIlroy’s struggles.
Colin Montgomerie, the legend of the European Tour, has suffered his fair share of major championship heartache.
Furthermore, it seemed to be his destiny to win the US Open.
A great short game and accuracy off the tee are prerequisites for the championship.
The US Open and the Scot seemed destined to be together, especially with Monty’s knack for finding the short stuff, his precise approach shots, and his deft touch around the greens.
Unfortunately, though, it never did.
We won’t go into detail about all of his heartbreaking losses here, but let’s just say that the 60-year-old has seen his share of gunfire.
Twenty-four hours after Pinehurst No. 2 concluded, Johnny Percival of GolfMagic had a chance to interview Montgomerie.
“Golly, I feel bad for him,” McIlroy’s partner Montgomerie remarked. “You have to feel sorry for him, right?
“In many ways, he had a bit of a disaster during the last four holes.
“He would have bogeyed the final four holes if it weren’t for hole 17, where he stood up and down.
“I believe it was the putt on 16, as that’s when he thought it had been ten years since his previous one.”
“For me, that putt was the one that said it all.”
McIlroy’s club selections over the last few holes have received a lot of attention.
On the par-3 fifteenth hole, he reached for a 7-iron and missed badly. Luckily, he managed to get away with a bogey.
Sir Nick Faldo and Montgomerie both agreed that it was a poor decision.
At the 16-hole par-4, McIlroy found the fairway, held the green with his approach, but missed the putt from within three feet for a par.
It was the first time he had missed from that far away this year.
Montgomerie remarked, “He got a wee bit ahead of himself there.”
At the last hole, McIlroy pulled a driver that drove the previously mentioned Faldo into a tailspin.
Driver wasn’t the right club to play on 18, and Montgomerie’s statement supported that claim.
The pundits were standing there. It was unfortunate that at 15 and 18, it was the wrong club. I hope he makes a full recovery.”
What, then, did McIlroy do after we witnessed the horrifying expression on his face in the scorer’s hut?
Before USGA chairman Mike Whan intervened, other reports claim that the Netflix cameras intended to follow McIlroy into the locker room.
“Do they need to be in there?” is alleged to have been Whan’s rhetorical outburst.
A few minutes later, McIlroy was seen abruptly leaving the field with his caddie, Harry Diamond, and manager.
To be honest, I believe he left with some dignity, Montgomerie remarked.
“It’s challenging to have cameras following you in the scorer’s tent, but he didn’t do anything improper there.
And he was just left with the amazing thought that Bryson wouldn’t be able to get up and down from that bunker at the very end.
“It was amazing that he got up and down and, coming out of that bunker, made six to be honest and gave it to Rory, never mind a playoff.”
“I just feel for him, I really do,” Montgomerie continued. “I was sad going to bed last night, I really was.”
“Since I know him well and have a lot of respect for him, I was sad for him at midnight.
“You know, what he’s been through in his personal life and off the course with the PGA-LIV situation, and now he has this.
“What a month he’s had, my god.”
Montgomerie was making reference to McIlroy and Erica Stoll’s marital problems.
A few hours after winning the Wells Fargo Championship, he unexpectedly filed for divorce. According to court documents, their union was “irretrievably broken.”
Unfounded rumors that McIlroy had a romantic relationship with CBS reporter Amanda Balionis have surfaced in recent weeks.
Then, just before the US Open, McIlroy revealed he had made amends with Erica, dropping yet another bombshell.
The DailyMail took a picture of McIlroy with Erica and their three-year-old daughter Poppy yesterday (Monday). Their wedding bands were on for both of them.
“Perhaps he can return,” Montgomerie remarked.
However, he thinks Faldo might be correct. The six-time major winner forewarned McIlroy that his injuries would be permanent.
“I’m afraid it was a Doug Sanders moment,” Montgomerie remarked, alluding to the American’s unsuccessful putt during the 1970 Open Championship.
Don’t get me wrong, the putt was extremely challenging. However, it swung slightly more to the left than he had anticipated.
“You know, it wasn’t a confident stroke.”
“It will rank among the most noteworthy successes.”
According to McIlroy, he will take a three-week vacation from golf before playing again.
Prior to traveling to Royal Troon for the 152nd Open, he will try to defend the Scottish Open.
What is Montgomerie’s probability assessment?
He remarked, “I can’t see it being him.” “I have to admit, how does he win?
“If he succeeds, recovering from what he endured at Pinehurst will rank among the greatest accomplishments for a very long time.
“It will be an interesting tale.”
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