Fans have been left heartbroken for Rory McIlroy after his 10-year wait for a major ended in the ‘biggest choke in the history of golf’ during the US Open.
McIlroy looked on course to triumph on Sunday when he overturned a three-shot overnight deficit to lead eventual winner Bryson DeChambeau by two shots with five holes to play on the final round.
However, the 35-year-old improbably bogeyed three of the final four holes which allowed DeChambeau to snatch the trophy by just one shot.
McIlroy’s dramatic slump included missing puts from two feet and six inches for par on the 16th hole, before he then faltered from fewer than four feet on the final green to suffer yet more heartbreak.
It means McIlroy’s last major triumph remains the PGA Championship back in August 2014.
Rory McIlroy lost the US Open in the most devastating fashion on Sunday afternoon
With the tournament there for the taking, McIlroy missed two putts inside four feet
McIlroy looked set to win the US Open but bogeyed three of his final four holes on Sunday
A fifth major title continues to prove elusive for the Northern Irishman and he has now come second at a major on four occasions since 2014.
And fans were quick to express their sympathy for McIlroy after taking to social media to reflect on Sunday’s action.
One said: ‘That’s hard to watch. Plus three for last four holes. Absolute torture for Rory McIlroy. He still has The Open & Olympics to add something to his cv, but it’s hard not to feel for him even if you are not a fan.’
Another added: ‘I don’t know how Rory McIlroy can recover from that kind of choke. Bryson took advantage of all the mistakes.’
Meanwhile, ESPN pundit Mike Greenberg said. ‘Rory McIlroy is an all-time talent, I hope against hope he gets another someday.
‘But this one is going to stick. Two shot lead, two putts less than three feet each. In a snakebitten decade, this has got to be the toughest to take.’
A further supporter was critical of McIlroy’s collapse as they said: ‘One of the worst choke jobs in the history of golf out of Rory McIlroy. Gifted Bryson DeChambeau that win on a silver platter,’ while an extra fan added: ‘How does he lose from that position, 26 time PGA and 17 time DP tour winner? Its unfathomable.’
Many will question how the 35-year-old McIlroy will recover from such bitter devastation
An extra fan even mocked McIlroy as they posted a clip of the American sports comedy film Happy Gilmore, and added: ‘Rory tapping in for par.’
McIlroy’s misfiring putting at the 16th hole also came after he had not missed a putt inside three feet so far this season.
McIlroy’s next chance to win a major will be at The Open Championship at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland in July.
Alongside McIlroy’s 2014 PGA Championship victory, the Northern Irishman won the Open that year, which was his second-most recent major victory.
Fans expressed their sympathy for McIlroy, but others were critical of the Northern Irishman
Following Sunday’s events, McIlroy did not speak to the media after he watched DeChambeau, who was in the group behind, hole his winning putt, with the Northern Irishman departing the course soon after.
However, speaking after his victory, DeChambeau was magnanimous and hailed his rival.
‘Rory is one of the best to ever play,’ he said. ‘Being able to fight against a great like that is pretty special.
‘For him to miss that putt (on 18), I’d never wish it on anybody. Luckily, things went my way.’
McIlroy’s week began with him calling off his divorce from wife of seven years, Erica Stoll
The Northern Irishman’s dramatic collapse allowed Bryson DeChambeau to steal the victory