The Open: Rory McIlroy still optimistic despite falling short again

Rory McIlroy fell wanting profitable one other main championship, this time ending seven strokes behind Brian Harman, who decimated the sphere to win The Open.

Contemporary off final week’s victory on the Scottish Open, McIlroy arrived at Royal Liverpool as a well-liked decide.

In any case, he hoisted the Claret Jug in 2014, when The Open was final held at Royal Liverpool.

However McIlroy couldn’t recover from his placing woes, as his brief stick but once more deserted him, because it did on the 2023 U.S. Open.

Picture by Luke Walker/Getty Photos for HSBC

Regardless of that, he nonetheless feels optimistic about his future, although his main championship drought will lengthen to 10 years when he arrives at Augusta Nationwide for The Masters subsequent April.

“Total, stable efficiency, not spectacular, however numerous optimism going into the remainder of the 12 months,” McIlroy admitted after his spherical.

“I missed just a few putts yesterday. Felt like I putted a bit higher right now. It was simply exhausting. I wanted to exit and shoot one thing 63 or 64-ish, however exhausting to try this in these circumstances.”

Following his third spherical at Royal Liverpool, the place he shot a 2-under 69, McIlroy skipped his session with the media, opting to observe on the placing inexperienced as an alternative.

He putted horrendously Saturday, coughing away loads of alternatives to climb the leaderboard.

Picture by Luke Walker/Getty Photos for HSBC

The transfer to observe paid off, nevertheless, as McIlroy discovered extra success with the flat-stick Sunday.

He carded a 3-under 68 by means of the rain for his last spherical whereas rating fourth in strokes gained: placing.

But, after beginning with three birdies over his first 5 holes, McIlroy couldn’t maintain the momentum going because of the brutal circumstances.

“Difficult circumstances on the market, and really reluctant to hit the motive force as a result of the membership face will get moist and the ball may go anyplace,” Mcllroy stated. “I needed to lay again off tees and attempt to play as conservatively and as good as potential.”

Any golfer is aware of birdie possibilities include sticking photographs near the outlet. Having to play from farther again dwindles these alternatives, particularly in fixed rain.

McIlroy nonetheless had loads of alternatives to threaten however couldn’t get nearer than six strokes.

He completed at 6-under general, tying for sixth place with Emiliano Grillo.

Picture by Luke Walker/Getty Photos for HSBC

For the reason that 2022 Masters, McIlroy has completed within the prime ten in seven of eight majors, with the 2023 Masters being the outlier—he missed the lower that week.

“Over the past two years, would I’ve cherished to have picked a kind of off that I completed up there? Completely. However each time I tee it up, or most instances I tee it up, I’m proper there,” McIlroy admitted after his spherical.

“I can’t sit right here and be too pissed off. Contemplating my performances within the majors between 2016 and 2019, it’s lots higher than that. Once more, I’m optimistic in regards to the future and simply obtained to maintain plugging away.”

Over these 4 years, McIlroy completed within the prime ten eight instances but additionally missed 4 cuts. His finest end was when he tied for second on the 2018 Open Championship, gained by Francesco Molinari.

However that’s previously, as is the 151st Open.

Now McIlroy can solely look forward as he hopes to snap his main drought in 2024, maybe at Augusta Nationwide, the place he may lastly win the coveted grand slam.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough too.