Rory McIlroy’s US Open is over and done with and despite a positive finish to his final round, Rich Beem has said he doesn’t like what he’s been seeing.
McIlroy was more upbeat ahead of his final round and that seemed to translate into his golf game as he shot a fine round of 67 to move up the leaderboard and end his week well.
However, McIlroy’s weekend has once again been ridden with controversy and negativity.
McIlroy spoke of not caring about missing the cut after round three, while Brandel Chamblee criticised McIlroy for not doing media again in the opening few days.
Now, despite putting together a better final round and speaking to the press before and after, pundit and former PGA Championship winner Rich Beem has expressed his concerns.
Rich Beem concerned by Rory McIlroy after his US Open week
Unfortunately for Rory McIlroy, despite finishing this tournament strong, the narrative around him is once again one of negativity.
Despite McIlroy breaking a US Open record with his final round 67, the overwhelming feeling from people seems to be one of sadness towards him.
Indeed, that is exactly what Beem said when discussing McIlroy.
“It doesn’t look or feel like he really wants to be in and around this game right now. It’s not that he doesn’t love it, or that he won’t be back 100 per cent. But it seems to me like there is something eating at him and he doesn’t quite know what it is. Or maybe he does and he just doesn’t know how to make it disappear,” Beem said on Sky.
“It’s not very fun to see. And as fans of the game and of McIlroy, it’s something we didn’t expect to see, because we were all happy for him [with Masters win]”
Rory McIlroy has to come into next week with a better mindset
Something has clearly happened between McIlroy and certain members of the press. It is clear, and he said as much himself, that there’s been a breakdown in trust somewhere.
However, McIlroy has got to maintain his professionalism. He is playing The Travelers and will be desperate to win The Open at Portrush too.
| Year | Tournament | Winning score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
| 2011 | U.S. Open | −16 (65-66-68-69=268) | 8 strokes | Jason Day |
| 2012 | PGA Championship | −13 (67-75-67-66=275) | 8 strokes | David Lynn |
| 2014 | The Open Championship | −17 (66-66-68-71=271) | 2 strokes | Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia |
| 2014 | PGA Championship | −16 (66-67-67-68=268) | 1 stroke | Phil Mickelson |
| 2025 | Masters Tournament | −11 (72-66-66-73=277) | Playoff | Justin Rose |
At the moment, he looks a mile away from being near his best and that has to change, starting with a switch of his mindset and attitude.
From there, his golf game will come and hopefully, he’ll get back into the flow he was pre-Masters.
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