Rory McIlroy has suggested a mistake he was making in his pre-shot routine during the final stages of the US Open as he reflected on what he may have done differently at Pinehurst in hindsight.
Rory McIlroy would not have been surprised by the line of questioning as he faced the press ahead of the Scottish Open this week – with the Northern Irishman returning for the first time since finishing second at the US Open.
McIlroy’s final four holes saw him make three bogeys to lose by one to Bryson DeChambeau. It really did seem that the prospect of finally ending his major drought got to the 35-year-old, who last won one of golf’s biggest prizes in 2014.
Of course, many will focus on the two short putts McIlroy missed, but his overall game started to become scrappy almost from the moment he took a two-shot lead on the back nine.
Rory McIlroy suggests change he made to his pre-shot routine at US Open
McIlroy has probably been able to pick out so many moments which could have easily made things end so differently, but it appears that he would not have changed too many of the decisions he made down the stretch.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the Scottish Open, McIlroy suggested that there was one or two things which he changed as he got closer and closer to the finishing line.
“Not a whole lot different. As I said, it was a great day until it wasn’t,” he said.
“I think if anything my pre-shot routine got a little bit long. I started to look at the target a few more times over the ball.
“Then being very aware of what others were doing on the golf course and not staying in my own little world for the whole 18 holes.
“But, apart from that, there is not a lot I would do differently.”
Northern Irishman may have realised how close he was to massive breakthrough
McIlroy is not known for being a player who hesitates over the ball, in the same way that a Brian Harman or Keegan Bradley can do. He is normally someone who can repeat his routine over and over again with very little difference from one shot to the next.
However, on that Sunday, it was apparent that he was taking a few more looks at the target before starting his backswing – almost as if he was seeking some last-minute reassurance.
He must have sensed what an amazing opportunity he had to get across the line. You really get the sense with McIlroy that once major number five comes, six, seven and eight may not be too far away – he is that good.
But he has never had a better chance to secure his fifth major title, and perhaps that came into his thinking ahead of each shot.
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