US Open: Rory McIlroy on the lookout for ‘proper way of thinking’ forward of The Open as post-Masters drop continues

Rory McIlroy says he must get again “in the right frame of mind” for The Open at Royal Portrush after an encouraging end to a irritating week at the United States Open.

McIlroy has up to now admitted to suffering for motivation since his dramatic victory at The Masters in April, which ended his 11-year watch for a 5th primary name and finished the profession Grand Slam.

The international No 2 has struggled for shape since that luck at Augusta National, failing to contend on the PGA Championship, lacking the lower on the RBC Canadian Open after which stuttering into the weekend at the United States Open.

McIlroy registered his worst US Open end since 2018 in spite of carding a three-under 67 at Oakmont at the ultimate day, with the 36-year-old now hoping for higher fortunes when he returns house for the overall primary of the yr.

“If I can’t get motivated to get up for an Open Championship at home, then I don’t know what can motivate me,” McIlroy instructed newshounds. “As I mentioned, I simply wish to get myself in the correct way of thinking. I almost certainly have not been there the previous couple of weeks.

“Getting house and having a pair weeks off prior to that, confidently feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, gets me in the correct position once more.

“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. An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those.”

Positive indicators for McIlroy forward of giant summer time?

McIlroy struggled off the tee on the PGA Championship and RBC Canadian however confirmed extra sure indicators with the driving force at Oakmont, the use of the similar TaylorMade Qi10 style that helped him win The Masters, discovering 11 of 14 fairways and making six birdies all over his ultimate around.

“I feel like I’ve driven the ball well all week,” McIlroy defined. “After the way in which I drove it lately [final round], I’d say I ended within the best 5 in strokes won off the tee. Really inspired with the driving force and the way I drove it as neatly.

“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.

“It [his game] is shut, as I mentioned. Physically I believe like my recreation’s there. It’s simply mentally getting myself in the correct way of thinking to get the most productive out of myself.”

McIlroy is again in motion at the PGA Tour subsequent week on the Travelers Championship prior to taking two weeks off forward of the Genesis Scottish Open, the development prior to The Open.

He overlooked the lower when The Open used to be closing held at Royal Portrush in 2019, having carded a quadruple-bogey on his opening hollow of the match, despite the fact that objectives a greater efficiency on house soil and a 2nd primary victory of the yr.

“Hopefully I can celebrate with them [home fans] on Sunday night with the Claret Jug and the Green Jacket,” McIlroy mentioned post-round. “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.

“It used to be great to finish this week with just a little of a good notice with the way in which I performed lately, and yeah, I’ll simply be taking a look ahead to and looking to get myself ready for Portrush.

“I’m looking forward to just getting back to Europe in general. Obviously I’ve got one more week over here. Play Hartford [Travelers Championship] next week. We’ve got a lot to look forward to, got our new house in London, play the Scottish and then obviously The Open at Portrush.

“I believe like taking part in an Open at Portrush already and kind of no less than remembering what the ones emotions have been like and the ones emotions that I used to be almost certainly unprepared for on the time. Obviously it’ll be my first time kind of in public again house after successful the Masters. It must be a actually great week.”

Watch Rory McIlroy in action throughout the season live on Sky Sports. McIlroy next features at the Travelers Championship, with early coverage live on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf ahead of full coverage from 8pm. Get Sky Sports or circulation no contract on NOW.