Rory McIlroy handed perfect motivation to punish American rivals after unwarranted dig

Majors eluded Rory McIlroy again in 2024 (Image: Getty)

The wounds of Rory McIlroy's devastating US Open collapse will be stinging once again after an unsavoury reminder.

Reince Priebus, Donald Trump's former White House Chief of Staff, bizarrely dragged McIlroy into the conversation when discussing Kamala Harris' recent performance on ABC show 'The View'.

He said: "She wanted to clarify the two most important issues that are facing these two candidates, the economy and immigration, and she bombed like Rory at the US Open."

McIlroy looked set to end his decade-long wait for a major in June, before three bogeys in his final five holes, which included two missed short putts, handed the title to Trump's all-American pal Bryson DeChambeau.

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Despite the agonising result and the jeers from those who revel in McIlroy's major mishaps, the 35-year-old was gracious in defeat and called DeChambeau a 'worthy champion' on social media.

He also shed light on just how painful it was to let the title slip through his fingers at a time when he was still in the midst of divorce drama with long-term partner Erica Stoll, and decided to take time away from the course.

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"It was a tough day, probably the toughest I've had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer," he wrote. "The one word that I would describe my career as is resilient. I've shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again. I'm going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up."

Reince Priebus insulted Rory McIlroy on American television (Image: Getty)

McIlroy was born and bred in Europe but joined the PGA Tour in 2010, and embraced life in the States by relocating to Florida two years later. The four-time major champion has stuck by the US-based Tour with immense loyalty and shunned the possibility of mega money in Saudi Arabia's breakaway LIV Golf league.

Why, then, has a prominent political figure, unprompted, rubbed McIlroy's face in his toughest moment on a course?

The County Down-born golfer is certainly well-positioned to take revenge. Sitting third in the world rankings, McIlroy is sandwiched between the three other Americans making up the top four - Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa.

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They will be his primary competition in next year's majors, three of which take place on American soil, and it would taste extra sweet to get one over on them and their fans by ending his barren run.

After that comes the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York, just an hour's drive from Priebus' hometown of Dover, New Jersey, where McIlroy will once again have an opportunity to stick it to the Americans and draw a line under his US Open heartbreak.

Rory McIlroy handed perfect motivation to punish American rivals after unwarranted dig

Rory McIlroy handed perfect motivation to punish American rivals after unwarranted dig

Rory McIlroy handed perfect motivation to punish American rivals after unwarranted dig

Rory McIlroy handed perfect motivation to punish American rivals after unwarranted dig

Rory McIlroy handed perfect motivation to punish American rivals after unwarranted dig