ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt Slams Rory McIlroy for Bailing Out After U.S. Open Meltdown

You really, truly hate to see it.

And by “it” I mean Rory McIlroy totally duffing a three-foot putt. Especially a short putt of monumental importance, as McIlroy’s was on the last hole of the U.S. Open.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here is the topic of discussion:

No-Luck Rory

As if that miss wasn’t bad enough, McIlroy had just enough time to go into the clubhouse to see Bryson DeChambeau sink his own short putt for the tournament victory.

So far, so good right? Everyone can understand the feelings McIlroy must have been bashed with in that short time span. Anyone who has played any kind of sport has been on the verge, the very cusp of victory, only to see it fly away.

That stuff happens. No one has ever had a perfect record in anything. Rory had a great day overall.

But that’s when Rory proved he’s no Caitlin Clark.

Instead of facing the music, he bailed. Literally – he left the clubhouse, got into his SUV, and bailed out without speaking to anyone.

It was that temper tantrum – bailing on the media after an incredible (though unfortunate for Rory) finish – that has ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt all hot under the collar.

Scott Van Pelt Not Impressed

On his Sunday edition of “Sportscenter” on ESPN, Scott Van Pelt let it rip:

“Now, Rory is one of my very favorite people in the sport for a lot of different reasons. One, he’s a thinker and he answers things thoughtfully. He’s also a great champion. And today, understandably, a bitter pill, a chance to end this major list drought, and it slips away as it did.”

It’s exactly those kinds of thoughtful answers that would have been sports media gold, had McIlroy stuck around to share some of his wisdom and thoughts on the tough outcome.

SVP continued:

“I think about this, Phil Mickelson, the [2006] U.S. Open, hit off a beer tent on the 72nd hole at Winged Foot to lose with a double and he said afterward, ‘I’m such an idiot.’ Greg Norman melted over the course of five brutal hours at the Masters in ’96, as his seemingly insurmountable lead evaporated,” Van Pelt said, referencing Norman’s six-stroke lead he gave up to Nick Faldo 28 years ago.

“When it mercifully ended, [Norman] stood there under the Magnolia trees in the darkness and he answered the questions about what happened. I’m certain he would have preferred that the Earth open up and swallow him whole, but he stood there and he took it. Rory today did not and you just have to.”

While I can commiserate with McIlroy not wanting to face tough questions immediately after completely blowing it, that’s part of the job, dude.

Unfortunately, as SVP points out, McIlroy’s choice to bail on the media will probably be remembered just as much, or even more, than the blown putt.

Instead of a relatively short media narrative he’d have to deal with, about missing one putt in one tournament, now it’s something else.

Now it’s about McIlroy’s attitude and professionalism. Now it’s a video – and the internet lasts forever, folks – of Rory jumping in an SUV and taking off.

The good news is, he doesn’t even really have time to worry about it. The Travelers Championship starts today.