Rory McIlroy shows true colours by turning down £3.1million payday after US Open collapse
Rory McIlroy has turned down the chance to play in the Travelers Championship this weekend after losing the US Open to Bryson DeChambeau. In doing so, he’s relinquished the chance to bank a potential $4million (£3.1m) payday.
The 35-year-old announced on social media that he will miss out on the weekend’s event after Bryson DeChambeau pipped him in the cruellest possible way in North Carolina. Taking to X on Monday, he wrote: “Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer.
“Firstly, I’d like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that.
As I reflect on my week, I’ll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly the 2 missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day. But, as I always try to do, I’ll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives.
“As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have. The one word that I could describe my career as is resilient. I’ve shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again.”
It means that McIlroy will not play at the Travelers Championship, which boasts an impressive first place prize of $4m (£3.1m), opting instead to get himself right for The Open.