Have you ever changed your phone number and accidentally lost contact with one of the world's greatest living athletes?
Rory McIlroy inadvertently froze out Tiger Woods in the aftermath of his collapse at the U.S. Open. Woods had reached out via text message, only for the support to be lost into the ether.
"Full disclosure, I changed my number two days after the U.S. Open, so I didn't get it until he told me about it today," McIlroy told reporters. "I was like, 'Oh, thanks very much.' So, I blanked Tiger Woods, which is probably not a good thing."
McIlroy trailed Bryson DeChambeau by three strokes heading into the final round of the U.S. Open, but DeChambeau left the door wide open with his performance on the last day. McIlroy was unable to capitalize, bogeying three of his last four holes. His missed putt on the 18th green was particularly inexplicable and cost him the chance at a playoff.
A desire from the four-time major champion to go off the grid in the wake of that disappointment was understandable. Nearly a month passed between the U.S. Open and his next appearance at the Scottish Open, which wrapped up this past Sunday.
Woods, who has a longstanding friendship with McIlroy, said he waited a week before sending a "nice text" to offer some support and any help that was needed.
The golf legend was probably a little perplexed as to why he failed to get a response back. At least the issue has been resolved.
Hopefully McIlroy's result at the Open Championship, which tees off Thursday at Royal Troon Golf Club, won't merit yet another change of phone numbers.
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