Once again missing out on a Major victory that has eluded him for nine years, Rory McIlroy did not blame himself for much about the management of his last lap apart from a poor appreciation of the speed of the greens. He was already looking to the British Open (July 19-23) to start his quest for a 5th Grand Slam title.
“How do you explain this new disillusionment (2nd place one stroke behind Wyndham Clark)?
The course was really tough and the scores from the last games reflected that. There are a couple of things I could have done differently but overall I played a good lap. That wedge shot on 14, the missed birdie putt on 8, other than that, I did everything else the way I wanted. Yes, the gaps are slim at this level and in this particular tournament, but I fought until the end. I never give up. And I’m getting closer. If I keep putting myself in these positions, sooner or later, I will eventually get there. I just have to recover and focus on Hoylake (where the British Open will take place) in a few weeks (July 19-23).
What do you need to improve to finally win this Major that eludes you?
The last two real chances I had in Majors, I feel like I did pretty similar performances, at St Andrews last year (3rd in The Open) and here. Didn’t do much wrong, but I didn’t birdie anymore after the first hole today (Sunday). I have to be a little more efficient when I have opportunities. To be in contention for victory in the last round of the US Open is a good thing. I played the way I wanted to but there were just a few shots, two or three on the return, that I couldn’t make.
“I would spend 100 Sundays like this to get my hands on another Grand Slam trophy”
