Rory McIlroy finds himself in one of the toughest periods of his decorated golf career after his major mishap at the US Open but he has issued a statement showcasing his resolve.
The four-time major winner has gone a decade without one of the sport's four most coveted titles, losing in heartbreaking fashion to Bryson DeChambeau last weekend.
The 35-year old held a two-shot lead with five holes to play at Pinehurst, only to make a number of questionable decisions during the closing stretch of the tournament. He would record three bogeys in his final four holes, a run which also included missing a pair of putts from inside four feet.
In the end, he would finish one shot behind winner DeChambeau and cut a decjected figure as he headed for the exit doors following the winning putt.
His mentality has been questioned following his capitulation, with Paul McGinley among those to give a blunt assessment of his major struggles.
However, he has shown some belated defiance in a statement issued on his social media channels on Monday night.
Léigh an scéal seo trí Ghaeilge ar Liathróidí.ie brúigh anseo.
Rory McIlroy issues statement after US Open meltdown
The County Down man, who is a four-time major winner, labelled his loss 'the toughest' he has suffered in 17 years as a professional - a big claim considering his dramatic capitulation at The Masters in 2011.
He gave his congratulations to DeChambeau - who himself issued classy support to McIlroy in his press conference - before outlining that he will take a break before gearing up for The Open next month.
Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I've had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer," he said.
"Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that.
"As I reflect on my week, I'll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly the 2 missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day. But, as I always try to do, I'll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives.
“As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have. The one word that I would describe my career as is resilient. I've shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again.
"I've shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again.
"I'm going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland."
McIlroy's fellow major winner and friend Shane Lowry showed his support on Twitter, replying to McIlroy's statement with a green loveheart emoji.
💚
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) June 17, 2024
McIlroy will return to action at The Scottish Open - one of the DP World Tour's flagship events and a title he won in clutch fashion last summer.
It is sure to boast a strong field as the trademark warm-up event ahead of the final major of 2024 - The Open at Royal Troon.
McIlroy, who also came second at the US Open in 2023, suffered similar heartbreak at the 2022 Open when Cameron Smith surged to victory with a stunning back-nine.
His form is still strong, having won the Wells Fargo Championship in recent weeks and he has the game to end his major woes.
