Nick Faldo believes Rory McIlroy will be haunted forever by letting the US Open slip through his fingers at Pinehurst.
Four birdies in the space of five holes from the ninth had given McIlroy a two-shot lead in pursuit of a fifth major title and first since 2014, only for the world number three to bogey three of the last four holes.
That devastating run included missed par putts of two feet, six inches and three feet, nine inches on the 16th and 18th respectively and allowed Bryson DeChambeau to claim his second US Open title with a brilliant par save from sand on the last.
Commentating for Sky Sports, six-time major winner Faldo said: “That’s going to haunt Rory for the rest of his life, those two misses.”
McIlroy did not speak to the media after his devastating loss and DeChambeau expressed sympathy for his beaten rival.
“For him to miss that putt (on 18), I would never wish that on anybody,” DeChambeau said after a final round of 71 left him six under par, a shot ahead of McIlroy and two clear of Patrick Cantlay and Tony Finau.
“I think that fire in him is only going to continue to grow. He’s going to win more major championships.
“I have nothing but respect for how he plays the game of golf because, to be honest, when he was climbing up the leaderboard, he was two ahead, I was like, Uh-oh, uh-oh. But luckily things went my way.”
The scene of McIlroy leaving Pinehurst was in stark contrast to last month’s PGA Championship where runner-up DeChambeau went back to the 18th green to congratulate Xander Schauffele after a closing birdie sealed his win.
“At the end of the day we are all human,” said Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, who finished fifth, three shots back of DeChambeau. “Rory has been chasing another major since many years. He is one of the best players in the world, a true champion. It shows you how tough it is.
“The more you want it, the tougher it gets, and the highest expectation you have for yourself, the tougher it gets, the more pressure you got into.
“Maybe this is a little bit of pressure that got him today for sure, but Rory is just a massive champion. I’m sure he will fight back and really soon.”
McIlroy’s next shot at winning his first major title since the PGA Championship in August 2014 will be next month at the Open.
An emotional DeChambeau paid tribute to his late father and one of his golfing idols, the late Payne Stewart, following his dramatic victory.
“I want to say Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there.
“Unfortunately my dad passed a couple of years ago and this one is for him.
“Also to Payne Stewart. He’s the reason I went to SMU (Southern Methodist University, Stewart’s alma mater), the reason I wore the peaked cap.”
Stewart won the third of his major titles at Pinehurst in 1999, but died in a private plane crash just months later.
DeChambeau, who shot 20 under par in the US PGA Championship last month but was beaten by a shot by Xander Schauffele, added: “I’m so happy I got that shot up and down on 18.
“Oh, man, I didn’t want to finish second again. The PGA really stung. Xander played magnificent.
“I wanted to get this one done, especially at such a special place that means so much to me, SMU, my dad, what Payne meant to him, the 1000th USGA championship. Stack them on top.
“That bunker shot was the shot of my life.”
He continued: “I don’t know what to think. It fully hasn’t sunk in yet. I just want everybody to enjoy it, as well. As much as it is heartbreaking for some people, it was heartbreak for me at the PGA. I really wanted this one.
“When I turned the corner and saw I was a couple back, I said, ‘Nope, I’m not going to let that happen’. I have to focus on figuring out how to make this happen.
“I was a little lucky. Rory didn’t make a couple of putts that he could have coming in. I had an amazing up and down on the last. I don’t know what else to say. It’s a dream come true.”
