Rory McIlroy missed putts, explained: Choke at 2024 U.S. Open extends one of golf's longest major droughts

Bryan Murphy

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Rory McIlroy missed putts, explained: Choke at 2024 U.S. Open extends one of golf's longest major droughts image

It's been a decade since the last time Rory McIlroy won a major championship on the PGA Tour. He's going to have to wait a little bit longer after his second-place finish at the 2024 U.S. Open — and he has no one to blame but himself. 

On Sunday afternoon at Pinehurst, McIlroy was four holes away from winning this year's U.S. Open. Sitting at 8-under par, the Northern Irishman was in the driver's seat, holding a one-stroke lead over Bryson DeChambeau as the fourth and final round was winding down. 

Then, disaster struck. 

McIlroy managed to bogey three of the final four holes, seeing his score drop and lead jeopardized. All he could do was watch from off the course as DeChambeau sank a putt for par on No. 18, securing his second career major. 

How exactly did McIlroy let the victory at the U.S. Open slip out of his hands? We break it down.

MORE: Full results from 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst

Rory McIlroy missed putts at 2024 U.S. Open

Bogey on No. 15

McIlroy's demise began on No. 15 at Pinehurst. At the time, he was 8-under, holding a one-stroke lead over DeChambeau for first place. However, he was unable to get up and down from outside the green, and he was forced to settle for a bogey. 

The hole dropped his score to 7-under, bringing him into a brief tie with DeChambeau. While he didn't miss a putt on this hole, it proved to be a missed opportunity.

DeChambeau three-putted for bogey on No. 14 right after, giving McIlroy the lead back for a short period of time. 

MORE: Which major has Rory McIlroy not won?

Missed putt on No. 16

McIlroy had a chance to redeem himself after DeChambeau's bogey on No. 14 that cost him a share of first place.

The Northern Irishman did not take advantage.

The world No. 3 golfer got onto the green and was in position to two-putt for par, which would have kept him one stroke ahead of the LIV Golf pro for the top of the leaderboard. Instead of capitalizing on the opportunity, McIlroy responded with a three-putt of his own, as his shot from four feet lipped around the hole and out. 

It was McIlroy's first miss in 496 attempts from inside three feet all year.

McIlroy fell to 6-under par, bringing him back to a tie with DeChambeau for first place. However, he still had two holes left to work some magic and claim the 2024 U.S. Open. 

Missed putt on No. 18

A par on No. 17 meant that McIlroy was essentially in control of his own destiny. At best, a birdie would give him the lead and put all the pressure on DeChambeau to find a birdie himself over the last two holes. A par would have kept the score even and, again, put the focus on DeChambeau to hit par and force a playoff or sink a birdie for the win. 

MORE: Patrick Cantlay vs. Rory McIlroy beef history, explained

The last thing McIlroy wanted to do was put DeChambeau in a position where all he needed was a par on No. 18 for the win — and that's exactly what happened. 

All McIlroy needed to do was sink a four-foot putt to keep his score at 6-under, putting the heat on DeChambeau in the process. Instead, his fourth shot on No. 18 missed to the right, causing the crowd to groan in disbelief. 

For the third time in the last four holes, McIlroy bogeyed, losing another stroke and falling into second place. With McIlroy at 5-under, all DeChambeau needed was a par on the final hole to stay at 6-under and victory was his. 

DeChambeau's second shot went into the bucker, but he saved himself with an incredible chip from the sand, putting the ball less than 10 feet away from the green. He sank the putt for par, claiming victory in the process. 

In total, McIlroy posted a combined 10 bogeys through the 72 holes at Pinehurst. Three of those just happened to come at the absolute worst time.

In the process, his streak of major-less golf continues, with his last win at a PGA Tour major event coming in 2014. There have been plenty of shortcomings for McIlroy over the years since his last major victory, but this one is going to sting for quite some time. 

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.