At Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, Rory McIlroy produced his best round of the U.S. Open with a 3-under 67 on the final day, moving to 7-over for the tournament. After struggling near the cut line during the initial rounds, McIlroy corrected his driver issues, hitting 11 of 14 fairways in the last round, signaling a hopeful turn as he prepares for upcoming events.
After the way I drove it today, I’d say I finished in the top five in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee,
McIlroy remarked.
I feel like I’ve got a really good feeling in my swing with the driver, which was great. Hopefully, I can continue that on into next week.
—Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer
Next Challenges: Travelers Championship and Royal Portrush
Following Oakmont, McIlroy is set to compete in the Travelers Championship, the season’s eighth Signature Event where he will lead the field. He is also expected to participate in the Genesis Scottish Open next month. These tournaments build toward a highly anticipated homecoming at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland as The Open Championship returns there after several years.
McIlroy’s History at Royal Portrush and Emotional Return
Six years ago, McIlroy missed the cut at Royal Portrush, starting with a difficult quadruple bogey on the first hole and missing the weekend by a single shot despite a strong second round. Reflecting on the upcoming return, he expressed eagerness to play in front of home fans and relive that unique atmosphere.
It will be amazing to go home and play in that atmosphere and see a lot of people that I still haven’t seen yet. I’m really looking forward to it,
he shared.
Look, if I can’t get motivated to get up for an Open Championship at home, then I don’t know what can motivate me.
—Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer
Recent Form and Focus After Historic Masters Win
Despite McIlroy’s landmark Masters victory two months ago, his performance in the five tournaments since has been uneven, with only one top-10 finish at the Truist Championship. His final round at Oakmont showed progress but was not sufficient for a top ranking this week. He will head next to TPC River Highlands, a course where he has historically performed well, never finishing worse than tied for 19th in five appearances.
Looking Ahead to New Goals and Major Triumphs
While reflecting on conquering one of golf’s highest achievements, McIlroy acknowledges the mental transition needed to pursue future victories. His sights are evidently set on adding a sixth major title, with The Open at Royal Portrush representing a significant milestone on the horizon.
Look, I climbed my Everest in April,
McIlroy said.
I think after you do something like that, you’ve got to make your way back down, and you’ve got to look for another mountain to climb. An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those.
—Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer
Additional U.S. Open Developments on Sunday
On the final day at Oakmont, notable player Conners withdrew ahead of the last round, and weather conditions forecasted rainy weather, which influenced play. These factors contributed to the challenges faced by the field during the tournament’s closing stages.