Paris Olympics: How Rory McIlroy’s Last-Minute Meltdown in Tokyo Changed His Tune on the Event Forever

From resentment to wanting to win it, that’s the trajectory that Rory McIlroy has had with the Olympics. He made his debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, and his whole world about the Olympics changed. Although the then-quadrennial event ended in disappointment for the Northern Irishman, just playing in it greatly affected him to change his perspective from how he claimed in 2016 that golf didn’t ‘matter’ at the Olympics as other sports. But he was then looking forward to another.

The 4-time major winner was representing Ireland as he has since his junior years and was inches closer to his first Olympic medal at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. McIlroy was just three shots shy of the then-leader, Xander Schauffele, after carding 67 on the weekends. He eventually entered a 7-man playoff for third place and eyed his first bronze medal in his Olympic debut. He made par at the first two extra holes and moved along, while Hideki Matsuyama and Paul Casey missed out.

On the next playoff hole, McIlroy had to make the seven-footer to make a birdie putt, but he missed it, the same way he brutally missed the U.S. Open putt for a playoff with Bryson DeChambeau. C. T. Pan won the bronze medal from China, and McIlroy was fourth on the leaderboard. It disappointed the 4-time major winner; however, he was more than determined to earn it at the Paris Olympics. He said, “It makes me even more determined going to Paris and try to pick a medal up…I’ve been saying all day, I never tried so hard in my life to finish third.” 

At that time, his qualifications for the 2024 Olympics were not even confirmed, but the Northern Irishman was already giddy about getting a medal. Even though the Tokyo Olympics didn’t end the way he wanted, it humbled him for all the good reasons.

Rory McIlroy’s loss causes him to have a change of heart

Rory McIlroy withdrew from the 2016 Olympics for two reasons. First was the Zika virus, and second, the Olympics made him question his identity. The Northern Irishman couldn’t represent his country, as they didn’t have an individual delegation at the Olympics. So, he had to choose from two countries he didn’t know the culture of. However, after playing at the Tokyo Games, McIlroy looked past it and felt that he had played well and with more freedom.

And that’s why he accepted his mistake of judging the Olympics too and making “uneducated and impulsive” comments about it, Golf Digest reported. He added, “I certainly didn’t expect to feel the way I did when I was there, but it was great. It was a great experience. I had a wonderful time.” Coming to the 2024 Summer Olympics, the 35-year-old may have a better chance of winning a medal.

Although he has had a few gut-wrenching losses, McIlroy has won two times on the PGA Tour and once on the DP World Tour. Additionally, the Northern Irishman played at Le Golf National and assisted Team Europe in winning against the Americans at the 2018 Ryder Cup. Whatever happened at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, it has suited the 26-time PGA Tour winner and, even in defeat, made him appreciative of the game. He would soon tee up at Le Golf National and represent Ireland for the second time at the Olympics, along with Shane Lowry. This time, McIlroy will try to overcome his shortcomings and win at least one medal.