Paige Spiranac was quick to defend Rory McIlroy after the Northern Irish golfer let the weekend’s US Open slip through his fingers – adding to his ten-year major championship drought
Paige Spiranac has asked golf fans to cut Rory McIlroy a break after he agonizingly missed out on his first major golfing trophy in ten years at the weekend.
McIlroy looked to have the US Open in the bag, leading the tournament by two strokes as he approached the last five holes. But missed putts for par within four feet on the 16th and 18th would be his downfall, as the pressure ramped up on the highly-decorated pro.
Bryson DeChambeau would capitalise on McIlroy’s slip-ups at the death of the Open, with a four-foot putt of his own sinking on the 18th to claim his second major championship after his 2020 US Open victory at Winged Foot, New York. Rory, on the other hand, has failed to achieve major greatness in 10 years now – with his last championship coming at the 2014 US PGA Championship.
And it seems as though emotions got the better of the 35-year-old shortly after the tournament, as he is believed to have bypassed the presentation ceremony while swerving media. After the tournament, Fore Play took to social media to share a video of McIlroy seemingly leaving the tournament soon after DeChambeau was crowned its victor, writing: “Rory declined an interview an left almost immediately after the final putt dropped.”
And X users were quick to comment on the post, voicing their disappointment that the golfer failed to stick around. One wrote: “Doesn’t make the PGA vs LIV look any better for PGA. Bryson talks to fans stay and signs autos respect all the USGA members, Rory dips out pissed at declining’s interviews and doesn’t congratulate Bryson on win. I get you’ve choked 10 years in a row but damn man has SOME class.” Meanwhile, another added: “So much less likable than Bryson.”
A third went on: “Not a good look,” while a fourth complained: “I like Rory, but this is a poor way to lose.” However, American social media personality and former pro golfer Spiranac was straight to the defence of McIlroy, urging people to “cut him a break” after his heart-breaking defeat on Sunday.
Quoting the footage, she wrote: “Hot take but I don’t care when athletes do this. He gave us everything he had on the course and gave us such an entertaining day. I feel for Rory right now and can’t even imagine how he’s feeling. Cut him a break.”
And Spiranac’s followers were quick to agree with her stance, with one writing: “Yeah, no biggie. He’s upset with his play today… He has every right to be done and not want to talk,” while another added: “I’m with Paige on this one.”
A keen golfer, Spiranac debuted as a pro on the Cactus Tour at Arizona’s Las Colinas Club in 2016, beating at the time top-ranked amateur Hannah O’Sullivan for her only tour victory. However, she is far more known for her social media career, amassing 4 million followers on Instagram through her golf-related posts on the platform.