Rory McIlroy’s devastated reaction to his U.S. Open collapse predictably turned into a meme

When you want to get away.

Rory McIlroy emerged onto the professional golf scene as one of the brightest young stars in the game. He won four majors before turning 26. But ever since 2014, it’s been a decade-long wait for that elusive fifth major championship. And on Sunday, it appeared that Rory was well on his way to capturing a U.S. Open title at Pinehurst.

That was until the round got away from him.

McIlroy, who had made 496 straight putts from inside three feet this season, had to settle for a bogey on 16 as his par putt lipped out. Then, with a chance to remain atop the leaderboard on 18, McIlroy once again missed a short putt for par.

McIlroy could only look on from the clubhouse (or whatever room he had to sign his scorecard from) as Bryson DeChambeau saved par on 18 to win the U.S. Open title. And the disappointment was awfully clear on McIlroy’s face. He knew he had just let a prime opportunity slip away, and it was the kind of collapse that will stay with a golfer.

The NBC broadcast offered this look at the demoralized Rory.

McIlroy immediately left Pinehurst without speaking to reporters after that. And, predictably, golf fans turned McIlroy’s reaction into a meme.

This was how Twitter/X reacted