What Rory McIlroy says about leaving Pinehurst immediately after losing to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open in new series of Full Swing

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Rory McIlroy is a constant feature in the new series of Full Swing, and the Northern Irishman’s US Open heartache at Pinehurst No.2 was the story of episode three.

McIlroy missed two short putts on 16 and 18 to hand Bryson DeChambeau his second major championship title.

Clearly distraught after missing out on his first major in ten years, McIlroy left Pinehust immediately after the final round.

McIlroy’s quick exit from the course drew criticism, with many believing he should have stayed to congratulate LIV Golf star DeChambeau.

Rory McIlroy speaks out on US Open exit

During episode three of Full Swing, McIlroy admitted he did everyone a “favour” by leaving the course quickly after what he claimed was the most crushing defeat of his career to date.

“I think missing that little putt on 16, which I hadn’t done all week. I feel like that putt sort of let Bryson back into the tournament,” McIlroy said.

“If you treat it as so binary as winning is good and not winning is bad, it’s a career haunter.”

He added: “As crushing of a defeat I have had in golf, it was probably the toughest finish to a tournament I have ever had, so I probably did everyone a favour just by getting out of there. I didn’t want to speak to anyone, see anyone; I just wanted to get on the plane and go.”

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Henni Koyack loved what Rory McIlroy did at US Open

The criticism McIlroy faced after he left the US Open was harsh. He had his fifth major in his grasp, only for two mistakes to cost him at the worst time.

What’s more, did McIlroy really need to witness DeChambeau’s wild scenes after his second US Open win? DeChambeau became the second LIV Golf player to win a major, and McIlroy’s views on the Saudi-backed league are well known. The fact that it was a LIV player who prevented the Northern Irishman from winning arguably made the outcome tougher to take.

Commentator Henni Koyack, speaking during the same Full Swing episode, was a big fan of McIlroy’s quick exit, however.

“I personally loved Rory’s Irish exit. It showed us how much he cares,” she said.

“Wasn’t that the question mark? Does Rory still have the fire? Irish exit says yes! If it was a boxer or a footballer, would we care? No. We want to see that passion. I want to see that passion from the golfers that I love, so I love seeing that from Rory.”