Rory McIlroy has revealed that he will be taking a short break from golf following his shock defeat at the US Open.

The Northern Irishman had one hand on the trophy but threw his chances away with three bogeys in his final four holes to sacrifice his two-shot lead, handing the title to Bryson DeChambeau.

In a statement released on X, McIlroy revealed that he will be taking a break for a few weeks to reflect on the highs and lows of his tournament. He said: “Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I've had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer.

"Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that.

"As I reflect on my week, I'll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly the 2 missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day. But, as I always try to do, I'll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives.

“As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have. 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'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 for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland."

Following his defeat, McIlroy fled Pinehurst and is unlikely to be seen regularly again until next month – opting to skip this week’s Travelers Championship in favour of regrouping and ensuring that his recent disappointment does not impact his performances and targets further down the line.

It remains to be seen how McIlroy reacts to his heartbreak upon his return to Scotland and whether he is able to block out the recent second-place finish, especially on the green. The 35-year-old missed from two feet and six inches for par on the 16th and less than four feet on the 18th in two blunders which ultimately prevented him from getting back in the winner’s circle.