Rory McIlroy let his frustrations boil over during the final round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, muttering an X-rated remark after a wayward shot landed in a bunker. The Northern Irishman, seeking his first US Open victory in over a decade, saw his challenge crumble on Sunday as he carded four bogeys on the front nine and five on the back nine, finishing the tournament well off the pace.
McIlroy's Frustration Boils Over
After one errant shot found the sand, McIlroy was heard saying, "Oh, just go home Rory," followed by expletives, signaling his resignation to a disappointing day. He had started the final round at three over par, but Wyndham Clark held a commanding six-shot lead at seven under, making victory a distant prospect.
Controversy Earlier in the Tournament
McIlroy's week was not without incident. During Thursday's first round, a spectator appeared to reach for his ball after it bounced off a cart path and into a spectator area. The USGA issued a statement clarifying that the ball was not lifted: "Right after McIlroy's second shot on the 4th hole came to rest, it appeared on the broadcast that a fan was about to pick it up when the camera moved away. However, based on the testimony of fans and a review of the available video, his ball was not lifted. The fan stopped just before picking it up and McIlroy played the ball as it lay." McIlroy shot an opening 69 despite the distraction.
Course Setup Praised Despite Struggles
McIlroy had praised the course setup earlier in the week. "I think the setup has been good," he said on Friday. "I think that's more a reflection of the golf course rather than the setup. I would say that the storyline over the first two days hasn't really been the setup. It's been the golf course. Then today was, I would say, a typical day here at Shinnecock where the wind was, you know, 15 to 20, gusting to 25 to 30. But I didn't really think there was any, like, borderline pins. I thought they've done a good job so far over the first couple of days." However, his final round performance suggested otherwise, as he failed to find any momentum.
Silence After Final Round
McIlroy declined to speak to the media on Saturday, and it appeared unlikely he would address his final round struggles. The 37-year-old's hopes of a second US Open title evaporated on the back nine, where five bogeys sealed his fate. The tournament marked another near-miss for McIlroy, who has not won a major since 2014.
