Largest Unrealized Opportunities at the US Open over the Past Two Decades

Revamped Recap of Broken Dreams at the US Open

Ah, the US Open - the mother of all golf challenges, where even the mightiest have fallen short in the last 20 grueling tournaments. We're taking a stroll down memory lane and reliving some of the most epic, jaw-dropping, and downright heartbreaking finishes of the past two decades.

From complete bedlam on the final stretch in 2006 at Winged Foot to just last year's crushing blow for Rory McIlroy, there's no shortage of gut-wrenching moments to discuss. But let's dive in and savor the sorrows, shall we?

Rory's Cruel Fate - 2022

Just last year, oh so recently, Rory McIlroy suffered one of the most agonizing near misses at the US Open. The Masters champ teetered on the brink of victory at Pinehurst No.2, but fate seemed to have a different plan.

Bryson DeChambeau, the man of the hour, conjured a miracle with a stunning bunker shot. Alas, it was Rory himself who inflicted the wounds. He missed putts of two and three feet on 16 and 18, losing his grip on the title.

To add salt to the wound, he bogeyed 15 after choosing the wrong club and flying the green, and he admitted that he got distracted by DeChambeau's antics. Poor Rory, still seeking to break his Major drought, the demons of Pinehurst every surely haunted him.

Johnson's Misfortune - 2015

Dustin Johnson can easily point to his putter as the culprit that denied him victory at the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay. After his disastrous putting display on the 18th, a simple birdie putt turned into a soul-crushing loss to Jordan Spieth.

Johnson stood on the 18th tee, one shot behind Spieth, but decided to reel in the eagle putt. Miss, but leave just three feet for birdie and a playoff, right? Wrong. Johnson missed that one too. In a blink of an eye, he'd gone from potential victory to a heartbreaking loss.

Montgomerie and Mickelson's Tragic Tie - 2006

Sunday's final round of the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot remains one of the most riveting in US Open history - as both Colin Montgomerie and Phil Mickelson found heartbreak when both needed only a par on the last to win.

Monty's 75-foot putt on the 17th for birdie was a masterclass, and finding the 18th fairway left a four for the win and a bogey for a playoff a worst-case scenario. But Monty's thoughts swayed, and a misguided 7-iron saw him end up in the greenside rough, then three-putting for a double bogey.

Surely Mickelson, fresh off consecutive Major wins at the 2005 PGA Championship and 2006 Masters, could do better? Well, he played the hole even worse, but once more, it was just enough for the win to slip away, costing him the career Grand Slam.

Fleetwood's Spectacular Near Miss - 2018

Tommy Fleetwood's storming final round at the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock Hills was nothing short of remarkable, but he fell just one stroke short of a stunning comeback and record round.

Had Fleetwood managed to sink an eight-foot putt on the 18th, he would have forced a playoff with Brooks Koepka and pulled off the unthinkable - the first ever round of 62 in US Open history. Alas, it wasn't meant to be, and disappointment tinged his brave effort.

Rory's Back-to-Back Woes - 2023

Rory McIlroy recorded a double dose of disappointment at the US Open in 2023, despite starting the day a shot back. His one-shot loss to Wyndham Clark at Los Angeles Country Club was more frustrating than heartbreaking.

Clark and McIlroy locked horns in a battle for the ages, but while Clark managed to find birdies, McIlroy's only birdie came on the opening hole. The turning point came on the 14th hole - as Clark benefited from a Bogey while McIlroy faltered.

Clark made consecutive bogeys on 15 and 16, offering McIlroy a glimmer of hope, but Rory couldn't capitalize and grab the victory that continued to elude him.

Shane Lowry's Near Greatness - 2016

The 2016 US Open at Oakmont may be more remembered for Dustin Johnson's contentious victory, but let's not forget the performance of Shane Lowry. Starting with a four-shot lead, Lowry looked destined for glory, but it wasn't meant to be.

Despite a strong start, Lowry's form deserted him, and four bogeys in ten holes saw him squander his lead. A birdie on 12 brought him level with Johnson, but a series of missed short putts and a string of bogeys on 14, 15, and 16 saw him lose ground and ultimately hand the trophy to Johnson.

These heartbreaking moments serve as stark reminders of the unpredictability of golf and the cruel twists of fate that the US Open can inflict upon even the most promising of careers. As we await the next chapter in this epic tournament, let us hope that the players navigate the treacherous course with their championship dreams intact.

Sports enthusiasts may be left pondering the 'what-ifs' as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both fell just short in recent US Open competitions, despite strong performances. In 2023 at Los Angeles Country Club, Rory McIlroy lost by a single stroke to Wyndham Clark, while Shane Lowry squandered his four-shot lead in the 2016 US Open at Oakmont, ultimately losing to Dustin Johnson. Both players were tantalizingly close to major championship glory but, unfortunately, could not seal the deal.