Golf fans think they know the change Rory McIlroy must make immediately after his US Open collapse

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Rory McIlroy’s painful wait for another major must now continue after more heartbreak at the US Open.

The four-time major champion last tasted such success in 2014, a year in which he won both the PGA Championship and The Open.

The US Open trophy meanwhile went his way in 2011, with a previous success at the PGA cliched in 2012.

It seemed for all the world that his barren run was now finally coming to an end at the latest US Open, with McIlroy having been in a superb position to secure another win during its latter stages.

But it wasn’t meant to be at Pinehurst No. 2, with Bryson DeChambeau snatching the trophy from the Northern Irishman at the last minute.

Rory McIlroy suffers dramatic US Open collapse

McIlroy superbly overhauled a three-shot deficit to lead by two shots with just five holes to play, but a devastating collapse saw him lose top spot.

Three bogeys were carded in his final four holes, with par putts within four feet missed on both the 16th and 18th holes.

The finish represents the fourth time that the 35-year-old has finished second at a major since his last win in 2014.

Even more painfully, however, is that he has become the first player in US Open history to finish solo second, one shot back, in back-to-back years. That is according to Justin Ray, with McIlroy having finished second to Wyndham Clark in 2023.

The aforementioned missed putts undoubtedly played a key role in McIlroy’s downfall, but his tee shot from the 18th will also go down in infamy.

Having used a three-wood in his first three rounds, the world number two opted to use a driver, much to the surprise of everyone watching on.

His drive veered dramatically left and into the Pinehurst rough, with McIlroy going on to bogey the par four.

Following the heartbreak, he immediately packed up his belongings and made a quick getaway from Pinehurst, but he has already been tipped by Dame Laura Davies to bounce back and win another major.

Golf fans know what Rory McIlroy must change after his Pinehurst pain

Many errors were made by McIlroy, but the decision on the final hole has left golf fans particularly bemused, with several now suggesting that he must immediately change his caddie, Harry Diamond, if he is to win another major.

Writing on X, one user said: “He needs a professional caddie and not a mate on the bag. Costing him his legacy.”

A second user noted: “3 over for the last 4 only happens for one reason sadly. Course management and issues again, hits 3 wood on 18 all week then driver today. I’ve said for a long time he won’t win another major with that caddie on the bag.”

A third commented: “Does Harry Diamond do anything except hand him a club? Would Rory even listen if he said, ‘let’s back off and hit 3 wood here’?”

Others said: “He needs an actual caddie,” and “He needs a professional caddie. He needs to fire his best bud and get someone who can do more than carry his bag!”

More comments read: “That was actually embarrassing. Get a new caddie and a sports psychologist pronto,” and “He has the worst caddie.”

Another user wrote: “Rory’s Checklist: New caddie, sports psychologist. Diamond should never have let him hit 7 iron on 15 or driver on 18. But man Rory you have to make at least one of those putts. Gutted for him.”