Fans left heartbroken for Rory McIlroy after 'biggest choke in history of golf' in final US Open round: 'I don't know how he can recover from this'

Rory McIlroy's major-tournament winless streak looked destined to be over after a decade. After he missed two short putts at Pinehurst's final three holes, the wait will continue.

McIlroy was not the only one hurt with how Sunday's final round of the US Open played out, as he finished second to Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke. 

Golf fans were also heartbroken and were noticeably upset online moments after the result became official. 

The Northern Irishman amazingly missed from two feet and six inches for par on the hole No 16 and less than four feet on the the final green of the 72-hole tournament to suffer another heartbreaking loss. 

McIlroy's last major tournament victory came in August 2014 at the PGA Championship.  

'That’s hard to watch. Plus three for last four holes. Absolute torture for Rory McIlroy. He still has The Open & Olympics to add something to his cv, but it’s hard not to feel for him even if you are not a fan,' one golf fan said on X.

'I don’t know how Rory McIlroy can recover from that kind of choke. Bryson took advantage of all the mistakes,' another person said on X.  

'One of the worst choke jobs in the history of golf out of Rory McIlroy. Gifted Bryson DeChambeau that win on a silver platter,' one fan continued on social media. 

'Rory McIlroy is an all-time talent, I hope against hope he gets another someday. But this one is going to stick. Two shot lead, two putts less than three feet each. In a snakebitten decade, this has got to be the toughest to take,' ESPN's Mike Greenberg said. 

Rory McIlroy had not missed a putt inside three feet before his misfire on No 16 this season at 496-for-496.