Tacoma, United States: Rory McIlroy was left regretting a cold putter as his hopes of a second US Open win came up agonisingly short at Chambers Bay on Sunday.
The world number one started the day eight shots adrift of the leading quartet and seemingly out of the championship picture. But in a superb display of shot-making, the 26-year-old Northern Irishman rattled in six birdies in 13 holes, the last of which was a monster 70-foot putt.
At that stage he was just two shots shy of the lead, with some birdieable holes ahead. Suddenly he looked capable of winning and also becoming the first man to score 62 in a major.
But a three-putt on the par-three 15th took the wind out of his sails and two holes later another dropped shot effectively ended his challenge.
He eventually settled for a 66 to stand at even par for the tournament.
No fifth major for McIlroy then, but he said there were plenty of positives to be taken from his week in the US Pacific Northwest.
“When I look back, obviously the last few holes of this golf course haven’t been kind to me all week. And when I look back at this tournament that’s where I’ll rue some missed opportunities,” he said.
“I feel like it’s sort of one that got away, especially the way I putted this week. I don’t think I’ve ever hit the ball as well in a major championship.”
It’s the second major in a row that McIlroy has left himself with too much to do in the final round following his charge up the leaderboard to place fourth at the Masters in April.
That is something he said he will work hard on over the next few weeks ahead of the British Open at St Andrews in mid-July.
“Of course I take a lot of positives out of this,” he said.
“The long game is really in good shape. I’ve never hit the ball as good in a major championship for four rounds.
“I was really dialled in all week and confident with that. And if I can just get the putting a little bit better and roll a few more in and get a little bit of confidence with that going, I see nothing but positive signs for the next few months.”
Next up for McIlroy will be another appearance in the Scottish Open in Gullane, East Lothian in two weeks time.
“I’ll go probably (to St Andrews) the weekend before the Scottish Open or even the Monday, Tuesday of the Scottish Open and play a couple of practice rounds,” he said.
