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Rory McIlroy finally talks about that US Open putt

VaselineJuly 10, 2024

1 2 minutes read

Rory McIlroy finally talks about *that* US Open putt

Rory McIlroy has broken his silence over the US Open putt that cost him his first Major Championship in a decade.

McIlroy held a multi-stroke lead going into the final four holes, but two costly misses on short putts on both the 16th and 18th holes proved decisive. Bryson DeChambeau took advantage to take home the trophy and win his second U.S. Open crown.

After the tournament, McIlroy issued a short written statement indicating that he would be taking a few weeks off from golf in preparation for the European swing, which has now begun.

Naturally, McIlroy, in his first public appearance since Pinehurst, was asked about *that* putt, how he dealt with the disappointment and how the whole thing played out in his head:

About the Putt:

“The putt on the last was a really tough putt, but I knew exactly where Bryson was off the tee. So I knew I had to hit it really softly. If the back one didn’t matter, I might have hit it harder, but because I was kind of in my own head; I didn’t know if Bryson was going to make par or not, it was one of those putts where I just had to… I had to make sure that if the putt didn’t go in, it didn’t go 10 feet out, which it easily could have.”

About the Chip Prior:

“I just left it on the wrong side of the hole. I got above the hole. Where the hole was cut, was on top of the little slope, it got pretty dry and crusty around the hole. And the chip shot just kind of ran out and went past the hole. So I hit that putt really, really easy, and obviously just missed on the low side, and it still went a good three or four feet past.”

On how he read the putt:

“So I probably played it, I don’t know, two, two and a half cups over, whatever it was, three and a half foot putt. There was a lot of swing in it, especially with how easy I hit it. Like I said, if it was match play and the next one didn’t matter, I would have taken a different approach. But knowing that Bryson hit it left off the tee, I just wanted to make sure that if there was a chance for a play-off, that it was.”

Below is part of McIlroy’s media visit on Wednesday: