Irish golfer Rory McIlroy has announced that he will be taking a few weeks away from the game to recover from the disappointment of his heartbreaking performance in the US Open. McIlroy missed two crucial putts in the final round at Pinehurst, causing him to narrowly lose a chance at his first major title in a decade.

In a post on social media on Monday evening, the 32-year-old golfer congratulated the new champion, Bryson DeChambeau, and acknowledged that DeChambeau's triumph was precisely what professional golf needed. McIlroy also expressed his determination to focus on the positives of the week, despite his regrets over the missed putts on holes 16 and 18.

McIlroy had previously stated that he felt closer than ever to winning another major championship, and described his career as resilient. Over the course of his 17-year professional career, he has consistently shown his ability to bounce back from setbacks.

However, the disappointment from Sunday's performance seems to have hit McIlroy hard. He acknowledged that it was one of the toughest days he has faced as a professional golfer. Consequently, he has decided to take some time away from the game to process his emotions and rebuild his confidence for his upcoming tournaments, including the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon.

The speed at which McIlroy left Pinehurst reflects the depth of his disappointment, as he boarded a plane within an hour of signing his scorecard. It remains to be seen how long it will take for him to fully recover from the setback.

Despite his recent string of near misses in major championships, McIlroy has an impressive record of 20 top-10 finishes since his last victory in the 2014 US PGA. This particular loss, however, felt different as he had the title within his grasp with just a few holes left to play. McIlroy's consistency in the US Open also holds significance, as he has become the first player since Jack Nicklaus to secure six consecutive top-10 finishes without winning any of them, since Jack Hobens achieved this feat over a century ago.

Paul McGinley, the Europe captain at the 2014 Ryder Cup, commented on McIlroy's performance and suggested that the weight of pressure may have affected him. McGinley noted that McIlroy exhibited signs of doubt and took more time over his putts, which is uncharacteristic for him. He described the loss as devastating, emphasizing that it is a setback that any player could find difficult to overcome.

As Rory McIlroy takes time away from the game to heal and regain his confidence, the golfing world will be watching to see how he returns to competition and if he can bounce back from this gut-wrenching US Open loss.