PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy has continuously been among the top players in the world since first appearing on the tour. However, a significant criticism of him as of late despite his steady play has been his lengthy major championship drought, which grew in the 2023 U.S. Open that concluded on Sunday.
McIlroy found himself in prime position heading into the final round on Sunday, sitting only one stroke back of co-leaders Wyndham Clark and Rickie Fowler.
Most saw him as the most likely player to potentially climb up the leaderboard and take home the victory. McIlroy was contending all day, but failed to post low scores.
He birdied the first hole but couldn’t find another. He shot even par which wasn’t quite enough to catch up with Wyndham Clark who edged him out by one stroke to take home the victory.
Wyndham Clark "Takes down all of the stars in Los Angeles to win the United States Open."pic.twitter.com/otCidZHJgR
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 19, 2023
His failure to get much going in terms of scoring was clearly the main factor in his runner-up finish. His one birdie makes him just the second player in the last 20 years to finish in the top-5 in a major with only one birdie in the final round.
Rory McIlroy birdied one hole today:
Hole 1.
He's just the 2nd player in the last 20 years to record a Top-5 major finish with their only birdie of the final round coming at their first hole.
The other is Phil Mickelson at the 2010 U.S. Open. pic.twitter.com/9qDN981wqg
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 19, 2023
This finish for McIlroy continues a frustrating trend that has plagued his career as of late, competing at major championships but not quite coming away with the win.
His last major victory came at the PGA Championship in 2014. This second-place finish marks the third major since that victory where he has finished as a runner-up to the winner.
McIlroy finishes runner-up for the 10th time in 232 PGA TOUR starts and for the second time this season (Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard).
He has now finished second three times in majors (2018 Open Championship/T2, 2022 Masters/2nd, 2023 U.S. Open/2nd).
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) June 19, 2023
McIlroy discussed this latest runner-up finish after the event, where he detailed that it will be “really really sweet” when he does ultimately break through for another major win.
“When I do finally win this next major, it’s going to be really, really sweet,” said McIlroy via golf insider Dan Rapoport. “I would go through 100 Sundays like this to get my hands on another major championship.”
Rory McIlroy, on more heartbreak: "When I do finally win this next major, it's going to be really, really sweet. I would go through 100 Sundays like this to get my hands on another major championship."
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) June 19, 2023
