Make no mistake, Rory McIlroy faces the biggest mental test of his career when he returns to golf after his bitter US Open disappointment – but he’s proven before that he has that ability to bounce back.
It’s brilliance rather than resilience that McIlroy is largely known for on the golf course, with a game that few can match at his best.
You don’t get 40 professional wins, four Majors, five Race To Dubai titles, three FedEx Cups and 122 weeks spent at World No.1 unless you have a special character to go along with a special talent.
While there’s no doubting the Northern Irishman’s talent, his character will be tested when he returns at the Scottish Open following the agony of those short missed putts at Pinehurst that cost him the US Open title.
But we’ve seen McIlroy show his toughness and come back from body blows before…
2011 – Dominant US Open win after Masters collapse
McIlroy lapped the field with a dominant US Open win
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Still just 21, a young Rory McIlroy had The Masters at his mercy in 2011 when he started Sunday four shots in front and still led at the turn, only to collapse to an error-strewn round of 80.
The Green Jacket went to Charl Schwartzel and McIlroy had to face the music after finding cabins in the woods barely ever seen on TV at Augusta, hitting trees and missing putts around Amen Corner.
Such a disaster could have broken many a young golfer, but not McIlroy, who confidently claimed he’d have many more chances to win a Major – but the first came sooner than we thought.
Just a couple of months later, McIlroy rocked up to the US Open at Congressional and not only won the title but wiped the floor with the entire field, leading from start to finish to win by eight shots. Statement made.
2019 – Portrush tears to FedEx Cup glory
McIlroy thrilled the Portrush crowds on Friday but just came up short
(Image credit: Getty Images)
You can sometimes want things too much, try too hard, and it certainly seemed the case for McIlroy as The Open returned to his native Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951 with him in super form having won The Players Championship and Canadian Open.
Hopes were sky-high for McIlroy to win on home soil, but his challenge was over after his very first tee shot, which went OB left and led to an opening…
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