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Rory McIlroy's marriage crisis turmoil may have led to his epic choke at the US Open, psychologist says
Rory McIlroy's emotional turmoil amid a very public marriage crisis may be the reason behind his collapse in the US Open, a leading psychologist has revealed.
The Northern Irishman was top of the leaderboard, two shots up with just five holes to play, as he tried to secure a fifth major title at the weekend, before ultimately losing in heartbreaking fashion to Bryson DeChambeau at Pinehurst, North Carolina.
He missed two relatively easy putts that would have clinched the title - just days after announcing a sudden U-turn in his decision to divorce his wife.
Now leading author Judy James has put his spectacular meltdown down to his marriage being in the eye of 'a perfect storm' and his emotional ebb at rock bottom.
She said, inevitably the emotional distress over the past few weeks when he filed to end his eight-year marriage when he served his wife Erica Stoll ,36, with divorce papers in their family home, had taken its toll on the star.
Rory McIlroy pictured at the US Open after losing to Bryson DeChambeau
McIlroy missed two relatively easy putts that would have clinched the title - just days after announcing a sudden U-turn in his decision to divorce his wife
This divorce move came after he was widely rumoured to be drawn to recently-separated CBS TV golf reporter Amanda Balionis when the pair shared a flirty interview.
But then, less than a month later, McIlroy made a shock U-turn after he and his wife held secret meetings and agreed to attempt to salvage their marriage.
And Ms James believes that this upset in the build up to the US Open may explain why he threw it away.
Paradoxically, Ms James also said that his marriage troubles may have been the catalyst for his incredible form that took him so close to clinching the championship.
She said top-level sportsmen like McIlroy, 35, can become more focussed and determined in the face of trouble in their private lives.
Ms James told MailOnline: 'McIlroy seems to have been going through a perfect storm with his marriage crisis.
'But it's not a given that would have a negative effect on his form.
'In fact it could have made him more determined and resilient if he was able to compartmentalise like many sports people do.
'One of the biggest form-busters can actually be success.
'When expectations get too high in any sport some players suffer from self-doubt and begin to buckle.
'Adversity in their private lives can often have the opposite effect, making them more focused and stubbornly determined to prove themselves out there on the course or pitch no matter what.'
After storming off the course following his defeat and refusing to attend a press conference, McIlroy announced today that he would not enter the next fixture in the golfing calendar, the Travelers, instead 'taking a few weeks away from the game.'
James acknowledged that McIlroy's two missed short distance putts that ultimately cost him the Open title had been calamitous for him - but insisted he should focus on the positives of what he'd achieved in coming so close
Rory McIlroy served his wife Erica Stoll (right) with divorce papers in their family home
The couple supposedly met at their $22m Florida mansion and worked through their troubles
McIlroy has been romantically linked in recent weeks to CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis
She said: 'There's a saying in sports and business that to win you need to focus on and aim for the gaps between the trees not the trees themselves, meaning that, like a car hurtling through a forest with failed brakes, you look for the gaps to drive through rather than pinning your eyes and thoughts on the trees that will cause you to crash.
'McIlroy's speaking specifically about the "two missed putts on 16 & 18 on the final day" but worryingly his words are more general and non-specific when he talks about "the positives" that "outweigh the negatives", hinting those cruel missed putts might be haunting him right now when he should be focusing on his brilliance.
Ms James added: 'The perfect ending to McIlroy's week would have been a win at the US Open and a win in his private life, creating a physical and emotional momentum that would motivate him through to a further win at the Travelers. Instead, he seems to have decided to stall golf-wise and take time off to "process everything".
Turning to the body language on display in a short video clip of Rory and Erica, both once again sporting their wedding rings, with their daughter Poppy, three, Ms James said he looked 'at a low ebb emotionally', just as he had after his devastating loss on the course 24 hours earlier.
'McIlroy's posture on the outing with his family looks equally low on energy and bounce-back,' she said.
'Walking apart he seems to wobble his head and swing his rather floppy-looking arms, although when he glances across at his daughter and his wife he does seem to gain some sort of a lift in mood with what looks like the start of a smile, meaning part of the fight-back might start there.
'McIlroy will clearly have had years of coaching in self-motivation and he might need to draw on it heavily right now to get back up to a state of invincible arrogance.'
Perhaps the time with his family away from the pressure of golf could be the key to getting him back on track.
She added: 'Erica looks relaxed and rather unfazed by all the drama here, keeping her eye-attention on their small child but with no signs of fussing over either their daughter or Rory.
'While he walks apart from them she throws no worried glances in his direction but when she does look across to speak to him she smiles immediately, suggesting a desire to make life as normal and drama-free as possible but also to try to raise Rory's mood with her own smile, which seems to work.'
Rory McIlroy stands with wife Erica and daughter Poppy after winning the final round of the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship
She said McIlroy's mood and mindset would be the key to whether he can come back from his low-point: 'Golf is all about calm body confidence and accuracy. It is a sport with no hiding place and no excuses when you're out there on the course.
'Often the biggest hurdle a golfer faces is in his or her own mind.
'The pressures can be enormous but pressure often only becomes a problem if it converts into fear and stress, which affects muscle tension and moods. '