He reached out to trusted individuals and identified areas of improvement for upcoming tournaments
McIlroy spent time in Manhattan to regroup after the loss
Rory McIlroy finished 2nd at the 2024 U.S. Open despite leading by two strokes
Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish golfer, experienced a heartbreaking finish at the U.S. Open held at Pinehurst in 2024. Despite leading by two strokes after moving to 8 under with birdies on holes 9, 10, 12 and 13, McIlroy missed crucial putts on holes 16 and 18 that ultimately handed the title to Bryson DeChambeau. In the aftermath of this disappointing loss, McIlroy retreated from public view for a few days to process his emotions and regroup.
McIlroy spent time in Manhattan, blending in with the crowds and finding solace in the city's vibrant atmosphere. He reached out to trusted individuals and identified areas of improvement for his upcoming tournaments. McIlroy has learned from past setbacks, using them as stepping stones to achieve great things shortly after.
The U.S. Open marked one of McIlroy's toughest major championship losses, but it was not his first such experience. Despite the heartache and disappointment that followed his collapse at Pinehurst, McIlroy remained focused on the future and continued to work towards improving his game.
The golf world watched as McIlroy navigated this challenging period in his career. Some questioned whether he would bounce back from this latest setback, but those who know him best were confident that he would rise above it and continue to make history on the links.
Rory McIlroy had a two-stroke lead at the U.S. Open after moving to 8 under with birdies on Nos. 9, 10, 12 and 13.
McIlroy missed a putt on No. 16 that was halfway down but lipped out.
McIlroy read his second putt on the 16th right of center but pulled it just a touch, causing it to catch the left edge and go past the hole.
Accuracy
McIlroy carded bogeys on Nos. 15, 16 and 18 to fall back to 5 under.
After pulling his tee shot into the native area on No. 18, McIlroy could only run his approach up the fairway and chipped to 4 feet.
McIlroy missed a par putt on No. 18 that was just a few feet away from the hole.
Deception
(85%)
The author uses emotional manipulation by describing McIlroy's collapse at the U.S. Open as a 'great day until it wasn't.' This is an attempt to elicit sympathy from the reader and create a narrative around McIlroy's loss. The author also selectively reports details, focusing on McIlroy's missed putts and ignoring his earlier birdies that gave him a two-stroke lead. Additionally, the author quotes McIlroy extensively without disclosing that he is doing so.
But he carded bogeys on Nos. 15, 16 and 18 to fall back to 5 under.
McIlroy on Wednesday called the final round a ‘great day until it wasn’t.’
Fallacies
(95%)
The author uses an appeal to emotion in the title and throughout the article by describing McIlroy's collapse as a 'great day until it wasn't.' This is an attempt to elicit sympathy from the reader. The author also uses a dichotomous depiction by contrasting McIlroy's 'great day' with his collapse, making it seem like there were only two possibilities: a great day or a terrible one. No formal fallacies were found.
The few days after it were pretty tough at times, but I feel like I’ve done a good job of thinking about it rationally and constructively and taking what I need from it and trying to learn from it. But like for the most part it was a great day. I keep saying to people, ‘It was a great day until it wasn’t.’
McIlroy reflected on his loss and considered it one of his toughest, but not the toughest major miss.
McIlroy went to Manhattan after the tournament to blend in with crowds and recover.
He identified areas in his game that need improvement before the Open Championship.
Accuracy
Rory McIlroy missed a putt on No. 16 that was halfway down but lipped out.
McIlroy read his second putt on the 16th right of center but pulled it just a touch, causing it to catch the left edge and go past the hole.
McIlroy had led by two shots with five holes to play but collapsed with three bogeys in the last four holes.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author uses an appeal to pity when stating 'It was a great day until it wasn't.' and 'among McIlroy’s spectacular major misses ... the Pinehurst U.S. Open has to rank high on the list.' This is an attempt to elicit sympathy from the reader for Rory McIlroy's loss, which while not a fallacy in itself, can be manipulative and biased.
It was a great day until it wasn't.
the Pinehurst U.S. Open has to rank high on the list.
McIlroy walked around Manhattan after the tournament, called people he trusts and found things he wanted to work on going forward.
He has learned from tough moments in his career and turned them into great things not long after.
Accuracy
Rory McIlroy missed two short par putts on the final three holes at the U.S. Open, giving away the lead to Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy had a three-foot par putt on 18 that would have sent the U.S. Open to a playoff, but he missed it and DeChambeau got up and down from a bunker shot to win.
McIlroy spent several days in Manhattan after the tournament, avoiding media and blending in with the city.
Deception
(80%)
The author uses emotional manipulation by describing McIlroy's feelings of 'uneasiness' and 'discomfort' before his putts on holes 16 and 18. He also uses selective reporting by focusing on McIlroy's missed putts and ignoring the fact that DeChambeau made crucial shots to win the tournament.
I can vividly remember starting to feel a little uncomfortable waiting for my second putt on 16.
It was a great day until it wasn’t.
I knew I had to hit it really soft. If the one back didn’t matter, I would have hit it firmer.
But again, that’s on me to make sure that I’m in the right headspace. I hit a decent putt on 16, the green grabbed it and it caught the left edge.
Fallacies
(90%)
The author uses an appeal to pity when describing McIlroy's actions after the U.S. Open as 'heartbreaking' and 'difficult finish'. He also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that McIlroy had a 'great day until it wasn’t'. These are subjective statements and do not provide any logical reasoning or evidence.
The author describes McIlroy's finish as 'heartbreaking'
The author states that McIlroy had a 'great day until it wasn’t'
Bias
(95%)
The author, Brody Miller, does not demonstrate any clear bias in the article. However, there is a subtle tone of sympathy towards Rory McIlroy and an emphasis on his emotional state after losing the U.S. Open.
He also acknowledged the nature of Pinehurst’s routing meant he was always aware of where DeChambeau’s ball was one group behind him.
]I knew I had to hit it really soft[
McIlroy missed the putt, and DeChambeau got up and down from a difficult bunker shot to par and take the tournament.
McIlroy spent several days in Manhattan after the tournament, avoiding media and blending in with the city.
Accuracy
Rory McIlroy reflected on his missed putts on the 16th and 18th holes during the US Open that led to a single shot loss.
McIlroy had led by two shots with five holes to play but collapsed with three bogeys in the last four holes.
He spent several days in Manhattan after the tournament, avoiding media and blending in with the city.
Deception
(70%)
The author uses emotional manipulation by describing Rory McIlroy's feelings and thoughts after his defeat at the US Open. He also engages in selective reporting by only mentioning the missed putts that led to McIlroy's loss and ignoring other factors that may have contributed to his performance. The article does not disclose any sources.
As he took in the sights from the elevated converted former railroad, the world’s number two golfer reflected on the two short missed putts that contributed to three dropped shots in the closing four holes of a major he seemed destined to win.
Critics also questioned the apparently passive role of caddie Harry Diamond during that calamitous closing stretch of three bogeys in the last four holes. But McIlroy continues to stand by his bagman.
He insists he hit ‘a decent putt’ but misjudged the right of centre line.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority when he mentions McIlroy's worldwide legion of fans and their hope that he is correct in his assessment of his golf game. This is a fallacy because the fans' hopes do not make McIlroy's statements any more true.
The worldwide legion of fans will hope he is correct, but it will surely be even harder to break his major hoodoo after squandering such a golden opportunity in North Carolina.
Bias
(95%)
The author expresses sympathy and understanding towards Rory McIlroy's disappointment about his performance at the US Open. However, there are a few instances where the author seems to take a biased stance by making assumptions about McIlroy's state of mind during the tournament and questioning other players' actions without providing any evidence.
But really, apart from that, there’s not a lot I would do differently.
Critics also questioned the apparently passive role of caddie Harry Diamond during that calamitous closing stretch of three bogeys in the last four holes. But McIlroy continues to stand by his bagman.
I certainly wouldn’t go to Hank Haney for advice. I love Smylie, but I think I know what I’m doing, and so does Harry.
Someone said to me once, if you would never take advice from these people, you would never take their criticisms, either.
McIlroy spent a few days in Manhattan after Pinehurst to decompress and work on improvements for upcoming tournaments.
McIlroy doesn’t regret his quick exit from the media after the U.S. Open.
Accuracy
Rory McIlroy led the U.S. Open until the closing hour, but finished one shot behind champion Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy had a quick exit from Pinehurst without speaking to the media after his loss.
He spent a few days in Manhattan after Pinehurst to decompress and work on improvements for upcoming tournaments.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
No formal fallacies found in the article. However, there is an example of an informal fallacy: McIlroy's statement about not having any regrets regarding his quick exit from Pinehurst. This is an example of appeals to emotion as he dismisses the importance of interacting with the media by saying 'you guys were the least of my worries at that point.'
There's not a day goes by that I don't feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world to get up every morning and be healthy and follow my dream.
