Rory McIlroy’s US Open challenge ended in disappointment after a final-round 73 at Shinnecock Hills left him at six-over par for the tournament. A poor wedge game and a critical collapse on Saturday’s back nine ultimately ruined his chances for a fifth major title.
The real damage was done long before his final loop. McIlroy entered the weekend in contention at two-under but plummeted down the leaderboard after playing Saturday’s back nine in five-over par. That performance rendered his Sunday largely meaningless. His frustration boiled over early in the final round after a fatted wedge from 160 yards on the third hole found a bunker. His round ultimately included six bogeys, one coming from a missed putt inside three feet on the 14th.
After the round, McIlroy acknowledged his energy was gone following the previous day’s struggles. He said: “‘You try to come out here today positive and you try to muster up the energy to put a good one in there, but a couple of bogeys on the front nine, I was just trying to race my way to the 18th green.’”
He wasn’t the only one frustrated by the course. Fellow pro Bob MacIntyre criticised what he saw as inconsistent green preparation. “‘The minute this goes out I am going to get bad rep for it, but they’ve put different amounts of water on each green,’” MacIntyre said. He later admitted he confronted an official. “‘I was pissed off and thought I am going to go and ask the question. I don’t normally do that, but I just thought, You know what, I am going to ask him why. He just gave me the answer I thought I was going to get, to be honest. But I was kind of venting a little bit.’”
While McIlroy struggled, others found a way to score. Tyrrell Hatton carded an impressive 67 to close on one-over par. “‘I was happy to go out and play a pretty decent round. Obviously the last hole stings a bit. That was disappointing,” Hatton said. For McIlroy, who finished outside the top 30, the focus now shifts to The Open. His driving has improved, but his wedge play remains a significant concern.
