Scott Van Pelt Criticizes Rory McIlroy For Leaving U.S. Open Without Speaking To Media
To say Rory McIlroy left Pinehurst in a hurry on Sunday after finishing runner-up to Bryson DeChambeau in the 2024 U.S. Open would be an understatement. The 35-year-old was already in the air on his private jet less than an hour after DeChambeau's tournament-winning putt found the bottom of the cup on the 72nd hole.
Part of McIlroy's wicked-fast exit included him avoiding any and all media after what will be remembered as ‘The U.S. Open Rory Gave Away.' McIlroy not answering any questions after squandering his lead has rubbed many the wrong way, and ESPN's Scott Van Pelt didn't shy away from criticizing the four-time major winner during Sunday night's edition of SportsCenter.
As SVP pointed out, plenty of other legends of the game stuck around to speak with reporters after epic collapses at major championships while alluding to McIlroy's decision not to do as the incorrect move.
"I think about this, Phil Mickelson, the [2006] U.S. Open, hit off a beer tent on the 72nd hole at Winged Foot to lose with a double and he said afterward, ‘I’m such an idiot.’ Greg Norman melted over the course of five brutal hours at the Masters in ’96, as his seemingly insurmountable lead evaporated," Van Pelt said, referencing Norman’s six-stroke lead he gave up to Nick Faldo 28 years ago," Van Pelt explained.
"When it mercifully ended, [Norman] stood there under the Magnolia trees in the darkness and he answered the questions about what happened. I’m certain he would have preferred that the Earth open up and swallow him whole, but he stood there and he took it. Rory today did not and you just have to."
"How it got away on this Sunday and the fact that he walked away without speaking about it will both be remembered," Van Pelt said of McIlroy.
In the minutes after DeChambeau secured the win, it's easy to forgive McIlroy - who bogeyed three of his final four holes to lose by a single shot - for skipping out on talking to any media members on Sunday. In the grand scheme of things, however, him ducking reporters is a bad look.
Taking time, even if that means a full hour, to decompress from the moment and eventually make your way to DeChambeau and shake his hand or give a few quick sentences to the media would have gone a very long way. Instead, we're talking about how Rory not only gave away what would have been his first major championship win in a decade, but how he bolted for the exits as fast as he possibly could.