Paige Spiranac rushes to Rory McIlroy’s defence after divisive US Open actions

Rory McIlroy’s rollercoaster final round at the US Open ended in heartbreak on Sunday, and the Northern Irishman declined media duties after Bryson DeChambeau pipped him to the title

Paige Spiranac has called on fans to go easy on Rory McIlroy after his gut-wrenching miss at a major title this weekend.

McIlroy was tantalisingly close to clinching his first major trophy in a decade, leading the US Open by two strokes with just five holes remaining. However, devastatingly short putts for par on the 16th and 18th saw him lose his grip on the title as the pressure mounted on the celebrated golfer.

Bryson DeChambeau swooped in during the tense final moments of the Open, sinking a crucial four-foot putt on the 18th to secure his second major championship, following his 2020 triumph at Winged Foot in New York. Meanwhile, McIlroy’s quest for major glory remains unfulfilled since his last win at the 2014 US PGA Championship, marking a decade-long drought.

Post-tournament, it appeared the emotional toll was evident on the 35-year-old, who reportedly skipped the presentation ceremony and dodged the press. Fore Play posted a clip on social media showing McIlroy exiting the venue shortly after DeChambeau’s victory, captioning it: “Rory declined an interview and left almost immediately after the final putt dropped.”

Fans were quick to jump on McIlroy’s case after he made a swift exit following his loss, with social media users criticising his lack of sportsmanship. One user expressed their disappointment bluntly: “Doesn’t make the PGA vs LIV look any better for PGA. Bryson talks to fans stays and signs autos respects all the USGA members, Rory dips out pissed of decline’s interviews doesn’t congratulate Bryson on win. I get you’ve choked 10 years in a row but damn man have SOME class.” Another chimed in, saying: “So much less likeable than Bryson.”

The Daily Star reports how criticism continued, as another fan remarked: “Not a good look,” and another voiced their disapproval: “I like Rory, but this is is a poor way to lose.” However, American social media sensation and ex-pro golfer Spiranac was quick to defend McIlroy, insisting that people should “cut him a break” after his gut-wrenching defeat on Sunday.

Sharing her thoughts alongside the video, she penned: “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 seemed to back her viewpoint, with one commenting: “Yeah, no biggie. He’s obviously upset with his play today… He has every right to be done and not want to talk,” and another said: “I’m with Paige on this one.”

Spiranac, a passionate golfer, made her professional debut on the Cactus Tour at Arizona’s Las Colinas Club in 2016, where she triumphed over top-ranked amateur Hannah O’Sullivan for her only tour victory. Despite this, she is more recognised for her social media presence, having accumulated 4million followers on Instagram with her golf-centric posts.