Sunday evening of the 124th US Open proved to be one of the most dramatic and thrilling finishes in Major history, as Bryson DeChambeau claimed a one shot victory over Rory McIlroy after the latter missed two putts inside four-feet on the 16th and 18th holes during the final round.
To be fair to DeChambeau, he had to make a stunning up-and-down at the 72nd hole to pick up his second Major scalp, but it was very much the case of the one that got away for McIlroy, as he was denied a first Major title in over 10 years.
Exiting the venue after watching DeChambeau’s final putt, a dejected McIlroy was reportedly on his jet before the American had even finished his winner’s press conference, as the wait for another victory in golf’s biggest tournaments goes on…
😱 😱 😱 😱RORY MISSES ON 18.Bryson can win the U.S. Open with a par on 18. pic.twitter.com/lSk0ZzzZK2June 16, 2024
Experiencing close call after close call, the burden of having not won a Major since August 2014 will be a huge frustration for McIlroy, who seemed “rushed” and “anxious”. That’s according to experienced Sport Psychologist, Gareth Shaw.
Having been published in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise journal, and holding an MSc in Applied Sports Psychology & BSc in Sport & Exercise Science, we were interested to know what impact this finish from McIlroy could have on the multiple-time Major winner.
You can check out the full Q+A with Shaw below…
What was your initial reaction to the final few moments at the US Open?
“I was on the edge of my seat throughout. I just kept thinking to myself ‘I’m glad I’m not standing on the tee box or on the putting green trying to make these putts!’ I think somebody said to Bryson afterwards that this is probably one of the most pivotal Majors that we’ve had in the last 50 years, such was the drama.
“But it really had everything. From Bryson’s bunker shot to Rory and the couple of putts that he missed. I don’t think we’ve had one of these… what impact this type of finish will have on Rory… since the Masters in 2011, since the last time Rory did something like this. I know it was in a bigger magnitude in terms of he had a huge lead, but he had a pretty convincing lead going into the last three or four holes yesterday, and it just showed that kind of pressure of…
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