Rory McIlroy.
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
It’s understandable that golf media and fans alike will look at Rory McIlroy‘s meltdown at the end of the U.S. Open as he gears up for The Open Championship this week. But the Northern Irishman revealed this week that he was quick to move past that performance with help from two very famous friends.
In an interview with The Guardian , McIlroy said his missed opportunity at Pinehurst No. 2 was met with text messages from two sports figures he also calls friends: Rafael Nadal and Michael Jordan.
“MJ was maybe the first person to text me after I missed the putt on the 18th but both of them got in touch very, very quickly,” McIlroy said. “They just told me to keep going. MJ reminded me of how many game-winning shots he missed. Really nice.”
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2024
The Open marks another opportunity for McIlroy to win his first major since 2014. The world No. 2 golfer finished T6 last year but is hopeful he can end the drought thanks to his current form: two wins and six top-10 finishes on the season.
Surely, encouraging words from his famous friends help him move past the disappointment and focus on the task at hand.
“I trust the people around me. I don’t need to go looking for external counsel,” McIlroy told The Guardian.
The Open Championship tees off from Royal Troon Golf Club on Thursday, July 18.
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