Rory McIlroy has Open press conference attendees in stitches with Tiger Woods anecdote
Rory McIlroy has revealed he inadvertently blanked Tiger Woods after his US Open collapse at Pinehurst because he changed his number.
World number three Rory McIlroy has revealed he inadvertently blanked Tiger Woods after the 15-time major champion sent the 35-year-old a consolation text message following his US Open collapse because he changed his phone number.
McIlroy, 35, told reporters in his pre-Open news conference today (Tuesday) that it took him at least four or five days to get over his near miss at Pinehurst No.2.
He took a trip to New York with his family where he he tried to 'find the joy' in the small things in life.
"Honestly, no one gave a s--- that I missed the putt at Pinehurst," he joked.
Related: McIlroy reveals exactly why he's changed his phone number
The four-time major champion also decided to change his phone number.
Within minutes of returning home that Sunday evening after Bryson DeChambeau's heroics he had at least 15 messages from members of the golf media hoping he would comment on what had transpired in North Carolina.
Woods told reporters before teeing it up at Royal Troon that he waited at least a week before sending McIlroy a consolatory message.
The 48-year-old said he knew the popular golfer would've been 'besieged' with messages.
"Full disclosure, I changed my number two days after the U.S. Open," McIlroy said.
"So I didn't get it [Woods' message] until he told me about it today.
"I was like, 'Oh, thanks very much'. So I blanked Tiger Woods, which is probably not a good thing."
McIlroy added: "Tiger has been nothing but incredible to me over the course of my career in the good moments and the bad.
"He sent me an incredible message after St Andrews in 2022.
"I met Tiger when I was 15 years old, and I've built up a great relationship with him, his whole family. He really enjoys spending time with my mum and dad as well.
"So, yeah, it means a lot. It means a lot that he reached out.
"Actually it means a lot that he waited a few days to reach out, which if he hadn't have waited that long, I probably would have got it.
"But I caught up with him earlier. It's always nice when your hero and the guy that you had on your bedroom wall is reaching out and offering words of encouragement."
"It doesn't bother me"
McIlroy knows that should he fail to lift the claret jug this week then endless headlines will be written about another opportunity lost.
But he insisted that he's not bothered by the noise.
"I know that I'm in a good spot," he said.
"If I think about 2015 through 2020, that five-year stretch I seldom had a realistic chance to win a major championship in that five-year period.
"So I'd much rather have these close calls. It means that I'm getting closer.
"But yeah, absolutely, I'd love to be able to play the golf and get one over the line, but as soon as I do that, people are going to say, well, when are you going to win your sixth? So it's never ending."
McIlroy will tee off in The 152nd Open Championship on Thursday morning alongside Tyrrell Hatton and Max Homa.
The trio will tee off at 10.09am BST.
