I totally agree that Rory should have stuck around afterward and at least congratulated Bryson. It was a missed opportunity on a number of fronts:
1) It would have been a good symbol of "it's time to re-unite the game" from two guys who started as antagonists for their respective sides but have since done a lot of work to make amends and become forces for bringing the game back together.
2) I think these two will see eachother again in the final round of a major and it stinks that the first chapter was one where Rory walked off childishly.
But while Rory walking off stunk and he shouldn't be exonerated for it, I think the focus should be much more on how epic that US Open was. The more I digest it, the more I think it's going to age as one of the great US Opens of our time.
The parallels to 1999, which IMO was another great US Open of our time, are also kind of stunning. Not just because of the two main characters but also how the final round/final holes transpired.
Bryson has his obvious ties to Payne but is also becoming an endeared fan-favorite on the course that resembles (perhaps even surpasses) Phil in his prime. His transformation over the last few years in that regard has been unbelievable.
Meanwhile, Rory's long stretch of "close but no cigar" is starting to resemble Phil's heartbreaks before he finally won the 2005 Masters. The monkey on his back seems to grow and grow each time he puts himself in position but doesn't emerge victorious.
When Phil won the 2005 Masters, I remember he said in Butler Cabin how the wait and heartbreak made victory that much sweeter. When Rory inevitably gets his fifth, I think he's going to have a similar reaction.
Of all of Phil's missed opportunities before finally winning his first major, the 1999 US Open at Pinehurst stands out as the one that probably stung the most. It seemed like all signs pointed to that Sunday being his day.
He and Payne were tied going into 16. Phil hit the GIR while Payne made a mess of the hole. Payne makes a magical putt to convert an up and down while Phil two putts for par. Still tied on the 17th, both guys knocked it inside 8 feet. Phil just misses the putt, shows Payne the line, and Payne makes to take a one-up lead. Then Payne makes a mess of 18 while Phil hits the GIR again. Payne makes another magical up and down to seal the win.
When Rory stood on the 16th green, I'm not sure if he knew Bryson had missed his par putt on 15 but all indications at that point where that Rory was going to win. Rory obviously did more to hammer the nail in his own coffin by missing those short putts, but the day was accentuated with a magical up and down for Bryson on 18.
Hard not to reminisce about how much that up-and-down echoed Payne 25 years earlier. Also hard not to reminisce about how tough the losses were for Rory/Phil.
But regardless, what an awesome day of golf at Pinehurst. For all the talk about Bryson's ball-striking and length off the tee, his short-game and putting are freaking unreal too. That up-and-down on 8 from dead was incredible (also kinda reminiscent of some of Payne's crazy up-and-downs that Sunday in 199).
Watching Bryson right now, it feels like what he's doing is sustainable. His game is polished. He's still reaping some of the benefits from the distance training he did a few years ago, but has combined it with elite iron play, short game class and a great attitude. I hope golf reunites again soon because he might be the best shot at a legit, sustainable challenger for Scottie.
