Rory McIlroy ‘acted like a child’ when he watched Bryson DeChambeau win US Open
Rory McIlroy missed a short putt on the 18th green at the U.S. Open to finish one shot behind Bryson DeChambeau, with a body language expert giving their verdict on the Northern Irishman’s reaction
Rory McIlroy missed out on the U.S. Open in agonising fashion (
Rory McIlroy’s response to Bryson DeChambeau’s victorious putt at the US Open last Sunday was described as ‘childlike’ by a body language expert.
McIlroy’s quest for a fifth major championship continued at Pinehurst No. 2, after he narrowly lost to DeChambeau by one stroke. Going into the final round, McIlroy was three shots behind the leader but found his stride on the fourth day.
The 2011 champion surged ahead with three birdies in four holes between the 10th and 14th, putting him two shots clear of DeChambeau and on the brink of victory with just five holes remaining
However, the final stretch turned out to be an hour McIlroy would rather forget, as he bogeyed three of his last four holes, including two harsh missed putts from close range. The first miss came at the 16th, where the Northern Irishman missed a par putt from less than three feet.
Incredibly, it was the first time the 35 year old had missed from that distance this season, having made his previous 496 attempts. The most difficult miss, however, came on the week’s 72nd hole, when McIlroy missed another short putt on the 18th green to finish the tournament at five-under.
Meanwhile, DeChambeau sat at six-under in the group behind, knowing a par on the last hole would make him the U.S. Open champion. Despite a wayward drive, the LIV Golf star played an impressive up-and-down from the bunker to confirm McIlroy’s fate..
Rory McIlroy was visibly devastated after his loss
McIlroy had been in the scorers room marking his card before watching his rival’s putt. A downcast McIlroy watched as DeChambeau’s winning shot dropped, before swiftly exiting through the door behind him.
Observing McIlroy’s body language when his defeat was confirmed, Judi James, a body language expert, told Mirror Sports: “The body language performance here looks quite childlike, almost mimicking a child with a brewing sulk.”
“As McIlroy watches the TV he almost announces a state of defeat from his slumped shoulders, glum mouth expression and the way his cap is pushed back on his head. His hands are on his lower back but then comes a rather dramatic re-positioning when he brings them round to plonk them around his waist, seeming to want to let everyone know how he is feeling in the moment.”