TROON, Scotland — Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods was among the people who reached out to Rory McIlroy via text after he collapsed in the final round at last month’s US Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
Unfortunately, McIlroy didn’t learn of Woods’ words of encouragement until he fell to him in The Open at Royal Troon Golf Club on Tuesday.
“Full disclosure, I changed my number two days after the US Open, so I didn’t get it until he told me today,” McIlroy said. “I was like, ‘Oh, thank you so much.’ Well, I shut down Tiger Woods, which is probably not a good thing.”
Michael Jordan and tennis star Rafael Nadal were among those who approached McIlroy after he missed two short shots in the final three holes and lost to LIV Golf League leader Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke.
McIlroy, a four-time major champion, will look to end a nearly 10-year major drought at The Open, which starts on Thursday on the west coast of Scotland.
Woods’ message to McIlroy was that he was a friend and he knew it was a tough time because he had been in this situation before.
“We’ve all been there as champions,” Woods said. “We all lose. Unfortunately, it just happened, and the raw emotion of it, it’s still there, and it’s definitely going to be there for a while. The sooner he can get on a horse and climb back into contention, like he did last week , the better it is for him.”
Even as an 82-time winner on the PGA Tour, Woods said he was uncomfortable with many strokes during his Hall of Fame career.
“You look at the highlights, I’ve missed a lot of putts,” Woods said. “I’ve missed a lot of shots. Just like Jordan, when they told me how many shots did you take? You see all the game-winning shots, but also, he’s missed a ton of game-winning shots. The thing is you’re still taking the game-winning shot. game and I still want the last shot.”
In retrospect, McIlroy says he wasn’t surprised he was nervous on the final holes, but only wishes he had handled his nerves better.
“I think the last holes of a major championship with a big chance to win, if you don’t feel it, then it probably doesn’t mean as much to you as it should,” McIlroy said.
McIlroy took three weeks off from competitive golf before returning at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open. He tied for fourth at 14 under, 4 shots behind winner Robert MacIntyre.
“Tiger has been nothing but incredible to me throughout my career through the good times and the bad,” McIlroy said. βHe sent me an incredible message afterwards [The Open at] St. Andrews in 2022.
βI met Tigris when I was 15 years old and I have built a great relationship with him, with his whole family… I caught up with him earlier. It’s always nice when your hero and the guy you used to have The bedroom wall with reaches out and offers words of encouragement.”