Golf fans react to another Rory McIlroy major heartbreak at US Open
Rory McIlroy came within one stroke of his fifth major championship on Sunday.
Another major championship, and another close call for Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman continues to put solid efforts in at the majors, but for the past nine years, it just hasn't seemed to be quite good enough.
And on Sunday, it was the same story.
McIlroy, 34, shot an even-par 70 in the final round to finish one-stroke back of Wyndham Clark, who was crowned the 123rd US Open champion at 10-under par.
Clark triumphed over a leaderboard that included Rickie Fowler, Scottie Scheffler, and Cameron Smith, in addition to McIlroy, to claim his maiden major title.
And where there was a fairy-tale ending for one, another experienced what has become routine heartbreak.
It's been nearly a decade since McIlroy last won his last major - the 2014 PGA Championship in August at Valhalla - and this week's tournament at Los Angeles Country Club ultimately ended in another painful loss.
McIlroy logged his third runner-up at a major since 2014.
And while he played a solid 18 holes of golf, Sunday's final round in California wasn't exactly faultless.
In a situation eerily similar to last year's Open Championship at St Andrews, McIlroy once again struggled to hole any long-distance putts on the greens.
According to Twenty First Group's Justin Ray, McIlroy was -2.25 in strokes gained: putting during Sunday's final round.
Rory McIlroy strokes gained putting by round
1st: +2.74
2nd: +1.89
3rd: -1.19
Today: -2.25— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 19, 2023
And both during and afterwards, golf fans online couldn't believe McIlroy's final-round putting performance, which ultimately cost him a fifth major.
Here's some of the reactions to McIlroy's putting from Twitter:
