Sky Sports commentators called out for Rory McIlroy comments and DeChambeau labelled lucky

Sky Sports commentators have been called out by Ryder Cup-winning captain Colin Montgomerie following Rory McIlroy’s dramatic US Open crumble.

The four-time major winner had the US Open in his grasp heading into the back nine, with McIlroy leading chaser Bryson DeChambeau by two shots.

It all went wrong for McIlroy though, with his title hopes fading in cruel fashion after hitting three bogeys in his final four holes.

The Northern Irishman’s misfortune gift-wrapped the win for DeChambeau, with McIlroy having now gone 10 years since his last major triumph.

But legendary golfer Montgomerie has hit back at the Sky Sports team for their comments about McIlroy’s performance.

In an interview with inews, Montgomerie said: “To drop three shots in the last four holes there is going to be criticism, but it proves yet again how difficult these majors are to win.

“The Sky commentary are always on about ‘he will win majors, multiple majors’, and I’m thinking, ‘hang on a minute, I’m living proof here that it is not easy to win a major’.

“You have to get lucky. If you were to say honestly between Bryson and Rory who had the fortune you would have to say Bryson had more than Rory. There is always someone to take it from you if you don’t finish strongly.”

Montgomerie continued to share his sympathies with the 35-year-old, admitting the scenes brought back unwanted memories from his time as a professional.

He added: “It’s amazing how many negative thoughts can swim through one’s mind.

“Rory’s errors can only be put down to negative thoughts. He did well not to bogey the last four holes, getting up and down at the 17th.

“This will hurt. It can’t not. The one at the Masters in 2011 [blew four-shot lead on last day] he was on the way up.

“I never recovered, I never really got over Winged Foot. I won once more in 2007, my last European Tour win at the K Club, but Winged Foot was hard on me, and I think this will be very hard on Rory.”

McIlroy revealed earlier this week that he was taking a short break from golf to help recover from the ‘toughest day’ of his professional career.

Opting to skip this week’s Travelers Championship, McIlroy is expected to return for next month’s Scottish Open, where he’ll enter the tournament as the reigning champion.