06/15/25 02:37:00
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06/15 14:35 CDT Rory McIlroy ends his US Open on a high note with a 67. The
next major is in his home country
Rory McIlroy ends his US Open on a high note with a 67. The next major is in
his home country
By NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) --- Rory McIlroy could leave Oakmont feeling like he
accomplished something, even if it took the full four days for him to produce a
truly impressive round.
McIlroy shot a 3-under 67 on Sunday, finishing the U.S. Open at 7 over and
giving himself a performance he can build off as he works toward the year's
final major --- next month's British Open at Royal Portrush in his home country
of Northern Ireland.
"It will be amazing to go home and play in that atmosphere and see a lot of
people," McIlroy said. "I'm really looking forward to it. It was nice to end
this week with a bit of a positive note with the way I played today."
McIlroy skipped talking to the media after his first two rounds this week, and
much of his availability Saturday was spent being asked why. His golf was a
bigger topic Sunday. It had been unremarkable through three days, but he at
least momentarily had Sunday's low round after finishing with six birdies ---
four on the back nine.
"Physically I feel like my game's there," he said. "It's just mentally getting
myself in the right frame of mind to get the best out of myself."
That's been a theme for McIlroy lately when he has talked. Winning the Masters
and completing the career Grand Slam was a seismic moment in his career, and
returning to those heights has been a struggle.
"Look, I climbed my Everest in April, and 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," he said. "An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those."
First, McIlroy has the Travelers Championship in Connecticut next week. And the
Scottish Open is a week before Royal Portrush.
In addition to finding motivation, McIlroy has needed to work out some issues
on the tee after his driver was deemed nonconforming before the PGA
Championship.
In that respect, Oakmont was a step forward --- even if at times this week he
seemed eager to leave this course behind.
"I feel like I've driven the ball well all week," McIlroy said. "Really
encouraged with the driver and how I drove it as well. It's not necessarily the
driver, it's more me and sort of where my swing was. I feel like I got a really
good feeling in my swing with the driver, which was great. Hopefully I can
continue that on into next week."
After the Travelers, a return to the other side of the Atlantic looms, and
McIlroy is looking forward to it.
"If I can't get motivated to get up for an Open Championship at home, then I
don't know what can motivate me," he said. "I just need to get myself in the
right frame of mind. I probably haven't been there the last few weeks."
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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