Rory McIlroy let his frustrations boil over with a foul-mouthed outburst during his final round at the US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, as his hopes of a first victory in the competition for more than a decade faded. The Northern Irishman was heard cursing under his breath and muttering, 'Oh, just go home Rory,' after his ball landed in a sand trap, according to reports.
McIlroy's Struggles on the Final Day
McIlroy began the closing day already three over par, but his situation worsened with four bogeys on the front nine. He remained within reach of some competitors, but Wyndham Clark held a six-stroke lead at -7, making McIlroy's task nearly impossible. The 37-year-old's back nine was catastrophic, with five bogeys dashing any chance of a second US Open title.
Controversy in the Opening Round
McIlroy's tournament was not without drama beyond his performance. During Thursday's opening round, a spectator allegedly collected his ball on the fourth hole. After McIlroy's second shot rebounded off a cart path into a spectator area, a fan appeared to reach for it, but those nearby shouted 'no.' The USGA investigated and issued a statement: '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 posted an opening round 69.
McIlroy's Silence and Previous Comments
McIlroy chose not to speak to the press on Saturday, and it seemed unlikely he would comment after his final round. On Friday, before his difficulties, he had praised the course setup: 'I think the setup has been good. 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 would say less players in the weekend, starting a little bit later, you know, I think you'll start to see the golf course dry out a little bit and ramp up. 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.'
