Rory McIlroy out of the top 20 after disaster at the U.S. Open in Shinnecock.

Rory McIlroy suffered one of the biggest collapses of his career on one of the most demanding stages in world golf, letting slip a privileged position at the U.S. Open and finishing outside the top 20, something unthinkable for the former champion of this major. After reaching the end of the first half of the tournament in Southampton, New York, tied for third place and just four strokes behind leader Wyndham Clark, the Northern Irish golfer found himself unable to maintain the pace and ultimately delivered one of the worst performances of his recent career in this competition.

The disaster truly began on Saturday, when McIlroy made 40 strokes on the last nine holes of the third round, seriously compromising his chances of contending for the title. On Sunday, the nightmare continued, with a score of 39 strokes on the first nine holes. Despite a slight relief by finishing one stroke under par on the last nine, the damage was done: McIlroy finished with a total of six over par, far below expectations and distant from the podium. This marks his worst result at the U.S. Open since 2018, precisely the last time Shinnecock Hills hosted the tournament, when McIlroy also had a performance to forget, starting with 80 strokes and missing the cut.

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The importance of this abrupt decline cannot be underestimated, especially considering McIlroy’s recent history. Between 2019 and 2024, the Northern Irishman consistently finished in the top 10 of the U.S. Open, recording two second-place finishes in the last two years. The consistency he demonstrated on the big stages made him one of the main favorites to win, particularly after completing his career Grand Slam in 2024. In addition to the inherent prestige of another title, McIlroy had two historic objectives in mind: to win a U.S. Open on a traditional course – an achievement he has always desired – and to equal the legendary Harry Vardon with seven majors won, the European record he aims to reach to solidify his status as the greatest European golfer of all time.

At the end of Sunday’s round, visibly disappointed, McIlroy did not hide his frustration. “I think at this moment, the course won the battle against me,” admitted the golfer, adding, “Looking back at the whole week, I will obviously regret the back nine from yesterday. I got to the nine holes on Saturday at two under par, and then everything fell apart. I played very poorly on the second half and basically took myself out of the tournament there.” McIlroy’s candid remarks reflect the frustration of someone who knows he had everything to compete for the victory but allowed the pressure and the Shinnecock Hills course to push him to his limits.

Despite the setback, McIlroy remains focused on the upcoming stages of the calendar. His sights are already set on Pebble Beach, where the U.S. Open returns next June, and on Royal Birkdale, the venue for the Open Championship next month. McIlroy himself revealed: “I’ll probably play some links golf this week. It’s my favorite time of year to go back home and compete in the Open, as well as spend some time there. This course, this weekend, wasn’t too different from an Open Championship in terms of conditions, but it will feel good to play links in the coming weeks.”

Pressure is mounting on McIlroy to secure another major and match Harry Vardon’s record as the major tournaments of summer approach. The European golf community will remain focused on the Northern Irishman’s journey, as he still has much to achieve despite having already secured all the relevant titles in the sport. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether McIlroy can overcome this setback and re-establish himself as the number one European, or if this U.S. Open marks the beginning of a less illustrious phase in his career. One thing is certain: with his ambition and talent, no one dares to bet against a strong comeback from the 2011 champion.