Rory McIlroy rues missed putts at U.S. Open, taking time off - ESPN

After suffering a gut-wrenching collapse in Sunday's final round of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy said in a statement on X on Monday that he'll take a few weeks off to «process everything and build myself back up.»

McIlroy was scheduled to play in this week's Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut — the last signature event of the season. He indicated in the statement that he won't play again until next month's Genesis Scottish Open, which he won in 2023, and The Open at Royal Troon Golf Course in Scotland.

McIlroy, who was seeking to end a nearly 10-year drought without a major championship victory, had a 2-stroke lead with five holes to play in the U.S. Open on Sunday. But he carded bogeys on three of the last four holes, missing a 2½-footer for par on the 16th and a putt of 3 feet, 9 inches for par on the 18th.

Bryson DeChambeau won his second U.S. Open title when he hit a pitch shot from a fairway bunker onto the 18th green and made a par putt to finish at 6 under — 1 stroke ahead of McIlroy.

McIlroy watched DeChambeau's winning putt on TV in the scorer's area at Pinehurst No. 2. He left the course less than 10 minutes later without talking to the media.

«Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Bryson,» McIlroy said in the statement. «He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that.»

McIlroy said he will «rue a few things over the course of the tournament,» mostly the missed putts on Nos. 16 and 18.

«But, as I always try to do, I'll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives,» McIlroy said. «As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next