Rory McIlroy has pulled out of this week’s Traveler’s Championship, where KeynoteUSA host Amanda Balionis is currently based, following her vacation and following her disappointment at the US Open.
Just last week at Pinehurst No. 2, McIlroy led by two strokes with just five holes remaining, leading fans to believe his great decade-long drought was about to end.
However, the 35-year-old painfully missed two short putts in a streak of three bogeys, paving the way for Bryson DeChambeau, who produced a spectacular moment on the 18th hole to secure the victory. Once DeChambeau claimed victory, a disheartened McIlroy quickly abandoned Pinehurst No. 2, struggling to come to terms with his fall, the Irish Mirror reports.
The Northern Irish golfer then flew to Florida, before sharing a message on social media explaining his feelings as he announced his withdrawal from the Traveler’s Championship at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut. Meanwhile, as McIlroy battled DeChambeau for the US Open title, KeynoteUSA Sports’ Balionis was enjoying some downtime with friends in the Hamptons, taking a break from the greens and fairways while rival network KeynoteUSA had the rights to the tournament.
She shared photos on social media, showing off her appearance in a bikini and sunbathing with her friends. Gossip about McIlroy and Balionis was rife during his brief separation from his wife Erica Stoll, but the couple has since called off their divorce.
McIlroy will now take a break from golf to be with his family and plans to return just before the Open at Royal Troon next month, meaning he will miss the chance to see Balionis at TPC River Highlands this weekend.
“Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I’ve had in my almost 17 years as a professional golfer,” McIlroy shared on social media Monday. “First of all, I would 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 will regret a few things over the course of the tournament, mainly the two missed putts on the 16th and 18th on the final day.
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“But, as I always try to do, I will look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives. As I said at the beginning of the tournament, I feel closer than ever to winning my next major championship.
“The only word I would describe my career is resilience. I have proven my resilience time and time again over the last 17 years and I will do it again. I am going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything.” and recover for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland.”
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