Following “probably the toughest” day of his career at the US Open, Rory McIlroy revealed he was taking a vacation from golf.
The 35-year-old withdrew from this week’s Travelers Championship in Connecticut following last weekend’s double-bogey loss to Bryson DeChambeau.During the last five holes, McIlroy made three bogeys. He also missed two putts on the 16th and 18th holes, which had a combined distance of only seven feet.
Yesterday, McIlroy used social media to discuss the loss and reveal his unexpected decision to take a vacation from the game of golf.
“It was probably the hardest day I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer,” he said on yesterday.
He lauded DeChambeau for being “exactly what professional golf needs right now” and congratulated him.”I’ve shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again,” he said, describing his career as resilient.
“To digest everything and prepare for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon, I’m going to take a few weeks off from the game.”After his shock collapse, McIlroy fled the course and refused to speak to media as DeChambeau sealed his victory.With The Scottish Open not starting until July 11, McIlroy will have nearly a month to prepare for his next competition. It has been a turbulent time for McIlroy away from the course too. A month before the US Open, he and his wife of seven years announced they were getting a divorce after seven years of marriage.However, on the eve of the US Open, he announced he was calling off the divorce.
He said: “Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”After The Scottish Open, he will then play The Open at Royal Troon where he will look to end his 10-year Major drought.
