Rory McIlroy announced he will take time away from golf following a dramatic late collapse at the US Open, which he described as one of the “toughest” days of his career. McIlroy, 35, held a two-shot lead in pursuit of his fifth major title and first since 2014, but dropped shots at three of the last four holes, allowing Bryson DeChambeau to claim victory.

McIlroy missed crucial par putts of two feet six inches and three feet nine inches on the 16th and 18th holes, respectively. He congratulated DeChambeau via his X account but expressed regret over his missed opportunities. Reflecting on the tournament, McIlroy stated that the missed putts on the final day would haunt him but emphasized his resilience and determination to bounce back.

Six-time major winner Nick Faldo commented that the missed shots would “haunt Rory for the rest of his life.” McIlroy, however, chose to focus on the positives, stating he feels closer to winning his next major than ever before. He plans to take a few weeks off to process the events and prepare for the defense of his Scottish Open title and The Open at Royal Troon in July.