Rory McIlroy’s journey toward ending his Major drought took an unexpected turn at the US Open last year. Just as he seemed poised on the cusp of his fifth career Major, a victory he had been chasing since 2014, his fortunes flipped. McIlroy, leading the pack, stumbled in the final stretch, making two unforeseen bogeys in the last three holes. This slip-up paved the way for Bryson DeChambeau to snatch the victory from McIlroy’s grasp. Following this defeat, McIlroy took a step back from the limelight, shunning the media and taking a well-deserved break. However, the most challenging days of his career were lurking just around the corner.
The Boston Common Golf team, with McIlroy at the helm, experienced their fourth straight loss in the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) season. This left them in a precarious position with no margin for error. Their hopes of reaching the semi-finals no longer rest in their hands. In the recent match, Boston deployed McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, and Hideki Matsuyama to take on the Atlanta Drive Golf Club, featuring Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel, and Patrick Cantlay. Despite a strong start, Boston was unable to sustain their early momentum, eventually succumbing to Atlanta.
During the triples match, Boston Common Golf managed to edge out a 2-1 victory by winning the 4th and 5th holes. Atlanta Drive only secured the 2nd hole, while the remaining seven holes ended in stalemate. However, the singles matches saw a shift in the tide. Atlanta showcased their dominance, securing three wins, including two outstanding performances that led to a decisive 6-3 victory. It appears Boston’s woes are far from over as they face a formidable opponent in the New York Golf Club.
The New York Golf Club couldn’t resist poking fun at Boston’s misfortunes with a reference to McIlroy’s infamous Pinehurst debacle, tweeting, “Didn’t know we were playing Pinehurst…”, much to the delight of some golf enthusiasts. However, not every fan found the humor in their jest, with one commenting, “not cool”.
The golf community, including Rickie Fowler and company, reveled in this gentle ribbing of McIlroy. The echo of his Pinehurst nightmare continues to haunt his TGL run, providing a source of amusement for some, while raising concerns for his fans.
