Rory McIlroy shuns media after another Major disappointment
Rory McIlroy was in no mood to talk on Saturday after another frustrating round in a Major.
It was all lining up perfectly for Rory McIlroy heading into this year’s 151st Open Championship. He was fresh off an emphatic come-from-behind win at the Genesis Scottish Open, and he was returning to the site of his last Open triumph.
Everything may not have been ideal for McIlroy heading into Saturday’s round at Royal Liverpool, but he still would have believed he had a legitimate chance at hoisting the Claret Jug on Sunday. And he did, even while facing a nine-shot deficit to runaway leader Brian Harman entering the day’s play.
Unfortunately for Rory, things, once again, didn’t go according to plan. Looking to avenge his gut-wrenching loss to Cameron Smith at St. Andrews last year, the Northern Irishman began his third round at this year’s championship with an intense purpose.
With legions of fans shouting his name and praying that this time it would be different, McIlroy immediately gave the masses something to cheer about. Birdies on three of his first five holes saw the four-time Major Champion off to the perfect start as he looked to cut into the deficit that he faced at the start of the day.
Rory McIlroy made the turn in 32, and while he gave himself plenty of additional birdie looks throughout his round, the putter just wouldn’t cooperate. After hitting his third to within 10 feet on the Par 5, 18th, Rory was once again unable to convert. He signed for a solid but unspectacular 69.
Failure to trim the gap at the top after so many missed opportunities left McIlroy in no mood to talk to the media after.
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Major glory continues to elude Rory McIlroy.
The continued brilliance of Brian Harman combined with countless chances that Rory failed to convert; all but ended his hopes of claiming the Claret Jug and first Major since 2014.
Rory finds himself trailing Harman by nine still, with one less round left to be played. Sure, Rory can piece together another excellent round on Sunday to end his week with another high finish in a Major Championship, but the thing he wants most on the course continues to elude him. And that stings.
What will hurt McIlroy, even more, is knowing how beautifully he played on Saturday without being able to buy a putt all day long. He gained over 2.4 strokes with his approach play and over 3.25 strokes from tee to green during the third round, all while losing nearly two strokes on the greens on Saturday, per Data Golf.
Another year looks to have come and gone for Rory McIlroy in Majors and the wait for Major Glory appears as though it will be made to wait for at least another year. The No. 2 ranked player in the world rebounded nicely following a surprise missed cut at the Masters in April, with finishes of T7 at the PGA Championship, and a runner-up finish to Wyndham Clark at last month’s U.S. Open.
Regardless of how he finishes at The 151st Open Championship on Sunday, it won’t be the outcome that either McIlroy or his fans had hoped for.
Next. Brian Harman and The Magnitude of Five Strokes. dark
The Northern Irishman continues to come so tantalizingly close to ending the Major wait without getting across the line. And that is what makes all of this that much more painful with each missed opportunity.