A dejected Rory McIlroy was filmed leaving the US Open without congratulating his rival Bryson DeChambeau after the American denied him a fifth major victory.
After a strong start at Pinehurst No 2 in North Carolina, the Northern Irish golfer spectacularly collapsed at the finish with bogeys on three of his final four holes.
Watching from the scoring room, McIlroy, 35, witnessed DeChambeau produce a remarkable 55-yard pitch from the sand to four feet and convert the putt on the 18th to complete a one-shot win.
McIlroy was pictured with his hands on his hips before leaving the room and making a quick exit from the resort without speaking to media and before the trophy presentation.
He remains without a major win since his 2014 success at the PGA Championship.
It had all started so well for McIlroy, who made four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn to claim a two-shot lead walking to the 14th tee.
But chants of “Ror-EE! Ror-EE!” soon stopped from the crowd on the 16th hole, where he had his first three-putt of the week and missed.
On the 18th hole, McIlroy’s tee shot landed behind a notorious wiregrass bush. He blasted out short of the green and pitched beautifully to four feet where he missed again.
Meanwhile, DeChambeau managed to pull off one of the toughest shots in golf.
“I still can’t believe that up-and-down,” DeChambeau, 30, said as he watched a replay from the video screen during the trophy presentation. “Probably the best shot of my life.”
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McIlroy is due to be back in action at the Travelers Championship, the latest of the PGA Tour’s Signature Events, which runs from Thursday to Sunday.
The final men’s major of the year is The Open, taking place at Royal Troon from July 18-21, where DeChambeau will again be among the pre-tournament favourites.
