Rory McIlroy Must Shake Off Own ‘Paris’ Demons Before Confronting Scottie Scheffler & Co For Olympics Hardware

Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler have had major victories in the current season, but Rory McIlroy has not had one. And not in a year or two, but since a decade. Last time at the US Open in Pinehurst No. 2, a missed putt cost him the painstaking moment of missing his fifth major again. So coming to the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Northern Irishman has a lot more at stake. If not for the four majors themselves, the Olympic gold medal is a different feat. That would surely make McIlroy’s 2024 season a lot better.

However, Le Golf National, an hour in the southwest of Paris, where the 2024 Olympic golf will be held, has not been particularly amusing for the 4-time major winner as of his last start there. The golf course was a nightmare for the 35-year-old exactly six years ago at the 2018 Ryder Cup. It’s not that Europe lost in that edition, but McIlroy did.

The 26-time PGA Tour winner was in an intense battle against Justin Thomas in the Sunday singles. Remember that he had won the two points before and was a little confident in the final, as Europe had a massive lead. The match was tied after JT’s par at the par-5 14th hole. And after that, the two PGA Tour pros halved it till they touched the 18th tee. That’s where McIlroy’s nightmare began.

After his first shot, the ball got stuck in the sand bunker, after which he made several attempts to reach the green, but it stumbled into the water hazard. McIlroy was dejected by the sight of constant failures. Thus, he called Thomas to concede the match, giving Team USA one point.