Rory McIlroy was unable to mount a charge in the final round of the US PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy(Image: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy lamented squandered chances at the US PGA Championship as he quickly turned his attention to the next major test.
The Holywood man, hunting consecutive major titles, started the final round at Aronimink Golf Club in south-west Philadelphia sitting three shots behind the leaders.
Unable to produce the Sunday surge required, he posted a one-under-par 69 to conclude five strokes adrift of champion Aaron Rai.
Multiple birdie opportunities slipped through his fingers during the closing round, and McIlroy couldn’t capitalise on the two par fives, though the 37-year-old expressed satisfaction at remaining competitive after launching the tournament with a four-over 74.
“I played good golf in the last two rounds. I gave myself a chance and that’s all I could really ask for after Thursday,” McIlroy reflected.
“I’ll rue three holes today that I didn’t take advantage of and that was the difference between a top five and having a realistic chance today.
“I think in these major championships I lean on my experience and I lean on my ability to get the ball in the hole, which is probably better than it ever has been. You know, my chipping and my putting and scrambling.
“A set-up like this, that’s what you have to rely on.”
McIlroy was pursuing the seventh major crown of his career, which would elevate him beyond Sir Nick Faldo’s haul and establish him as Europe’s most decorated player in the modern age.
That ambition now shifts to next month’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York.
“Shinnecock is going to provide a very different test to what we saw this week,” he added.
“I’ll go there a little bit early again, try to get some prep in and re-familiarise myself with that golf course a bit.
“Short game is going to have to be very sharp that week. Greens very similar to the greens here, the run-offs and slopes, except there’s not the thick rough around the greens. It’s more tighter lies and the ball gets away from the greens a little bit, which is sort of more like I like it.”
A third US PGA crown for McIlroy would have maintained hopes of achieving a calendar grand slam.
When questioned whether this prospect occupied his thoughts, McIlroy responded: “Not really that much. I think it’s unlikely, of course I was the only person that had a chance to do it.
“I’ve been the only person that’s had a chance the last two years.
“I’d say it crossed my mind after yesterday. I’m like, ‘oh if I could play a really good round of golf here today, you never know’.
“But I haven’t thought about it that much. I feel like I set pretty lofty goals but that one is bordering on unrealistic.”
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