Rory McIlroy believes there’s a real ‘misconception’ forming about him after his Irish Open defeat

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Few would have blamed Rory McIlroy at all had he decided to put the golf clubs away for the rest of the year following the US Open where he agonisingly missed out on securing his fifth major title after making bogey on three of the final four holes at Pinehurst.

Rory McIlroy had been flawless from inside three feet for nearly 500 putts before he stepped up and missed on the 16th in North Carolina in June. Ultimately, it was no surprise that McIlroy was unable to bring himself to stick around and congratulate Bryson DeChambeau on his victory.

The Northern Irishman did take a break for a few weeks, but did return for the Scottish Open, producing an impressive finish at the Renaissance Club. However, his form has largely been patchy over the last few months, with McIlroy hardly in contention at The Tour Championship.

So it was encouraging that he seemed to be playing so well at the Irish Open, with the 35-year-old boasting a two-shot lead down the back nine on Sunday at Royal County Down. Unfortunately, a combination of McIlroy stumbling again and the brilliance of Rasmus Hojgaard meant that the Dane took the title.

Rory McIlroy reflects on his Irish Open finish

It is impossible not to draw parallels between what happened at Pinehurst and last week. But speaking ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, McIlroy suggested that he is far from beating himself up over what happened in Newcastle.

“No, I’m glad for the opportunity to get back on the horse again. I think there may be a misconception that it hit me harder than it maybe did. You know, I didn’t really feel like I necessarily lost the tournament. I felt like Rasmus went out and won it. Shot 31 on the back nine,” he said.

“So yeah, I shouldn’t have missed the green right on 15 and misjudged the first putt on 17. But I mean, looking back on Sunday and the support of the crowds and that scene on 18 and everything, it was amazing to be a part of.

“Obviously just trying to look for the positives in all of it but yeah, happy to get here. My game is feeling like it’s in pretty good shape and I feel like I have another chance to win a really big tournament that means a lot to me.”

Why McIlroy’s stance makes a lot of sense

It is perhaps not entirely surprising that McIlroy has been able to move past what happened at Royal County Down quickly. As he suggests, Hojgaard’s brilliance should not be overlooked as the attention finds itself on McIlroy.

But it was also always likely that McIlroy was only going to be able to put what happened in the US Open behind him once he found himself in contention in another major. McIlroy has won so many events worldwide since his last major in 2014, so getting the job done in tour events is clearly not the issue.

As much as he would have loved to have won the Irish Open on home soil, his year is not going to be defined by what happened down the stretch last week.