Nick Faldo’s instant reaction to Rory McIlroy’s US Open nightmare speaks volumes

Golf legend Sir Nick Faldo has admitted that Rory McIlroy will be haunted for life after the world No.3 blew the chance to win the US Open in Sunday’s final round at Pinehurst

Sir Nick Faldo believes the manner in which Rory McIlroy allowed the US Open to slip away from him will haunt the Ulsterman for life.

McIlroy, 35, surged into a two-shot lead on the back nine at Pinehurst after banking four birdies from five holes to leave him on the cusp of ending his long wait for a fifth major. However, the world No.3 recorded bogeys on three of his last four holes to gift Bryson DeChambeau victory.

Faldo, a six-time major winner, was providing commentary on the final round for Sky Sports and couldn’t hide his horror after McIlroy’s late collapse. The Brit summed it up perfectly, saying: “That’s going to haunt Rory for the rest of his life, those two misses.”

A distraught McIlroy made a swift exit in the aftermath of DeChambeau’s triumph and did not speak to the media. The American showed his class by expressing sympathy for his opposing number during his post-tournament interview.

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Rory McIlroy immediately flees US Open after ‘biggest choke in history of golf’
“For him to miss that putt (on 18), I would never wish that on anybody,” DeChambeau said after shooting a final round of 71, leaving him six under par, one shot clear of McIlroy. “I think that fire in him is only going to continue to grow. He’s going to win more major championships.

“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.”

While DeChambeau was able to bask in the moment after landing his second major, McIlroy was left to reflect on what could have been after coming so close to landing his first major win since the PGA Championship back in 2014.

Ironically, McIlroy’s short game had been practically flawless prior to his late implosion at Pinehurst. He had holed 496 consecutive putts of three feet or less in 2024 before missing big shots on the 16th and 18th.

McIlroy, who has finished in the top 10 at nine of the past 12 major tournaments, will have another opportunity to end his decade-long drought next month at the Open Championship, which takes place at Royal Troon.

He previously won the Claret Jug back in 2014 at Royal Liverpool, where he went wire-to-wire.

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