How Rory McIlroy Went Through the Stages of Grief After Losing the US Open

If they had suffered a defeat like Rory McIlroy suffered at Pinehurst last month, a whole lot of people would have burned their golf clubs, changed their names and disappeared into the hills, never to return.

Rory McIlroy? Well, he just changed his phone number.

“I went from being really disappointed and depressed to trying to focus on the positives, to wanting to learn from the negatives and finally getting to the point where I’m excited and motivated to go again,” McIlroy said Tuesday ahead of this week’s British Open.

McIlroy returned to golf last week at the Genesis Scottish Open, but this is his first real test of major-level golf since the US Open. McIlroy has a history of bouncing back from setbacks – he won his first major since his Masters debacle in 2011 – and he is already one of the favourites to win this week at Royal Troon.

“It’s funny how your mindset can change from, I don’t want to see a golf course for a month to be four days later, I can’t wait to try it again,” he said. “When that disappointment turns into motivation, then it’s time to go again.” How long did it take to make that transition? “Three, four days.”

McIlroy spent the time immediately following the loss losing himself in Manhattan, Airpods in. “It’s liberating in a way,” he said. “I think it’s really important to try to find joy in the little things in life. Going there is a good reset, especially, just in terms of seeing everyone else living their own lives and the hustle and bustle. Honestly, nobody gave a damn if I missed the putt at Pinehurst. It’s a nice perspective to keep.”

And as for that phone number? Blame it on the media. McIlroy said he received about a dozen text messages from media personnel and decided it was time to get some distance, so he changed his number. That led to the odd little circumstance of missing a condolence text from Tiger Woods.

“I didn’t get it until he told me (Tuesday). I was like, ‘Oh, thank you very much,'” McIlroy said. “So I ignored Tiger Woods, which is probably not a good thing.”

McIlroy will start Thursday at 5:09 a.m. Eastern Time, along with Max Homa and Tyrrell Hatton.