The Northern Irishman finished tied for fifth at Royal Troon, 16 shots adrift of eventual victor Henrik Stenson, but still remains fourth in the updated rankings.
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“I didn’t adjust well to the greens being so slow those first two days and was probably a bit on the defensive considering there were opportunities out there”, he said. He’s not sure he could’ve if he was on the right side of the draw, but he does leave Royal Troon with confidence heading toward the PGA Championship.
“I did the exact same thing there”, McIlroy said.
Jason Day has already cast his focus to the defence of his US PGA Championship after rounding out Australia’s disappointing Open Championship campaign.
Looking to become Sweden’s first male major champion after seven top-four finishes, Stenson rolled in his sixth birdie in the space of nine holes on the 10th, but Mickelson crucially followed him in from eight feet.
McIlroy, who never recovered from having to play in the most miserable weather conditions during his second round, was on course to be the lowest score of the day which would set him up for a second top-10 finish at a major this year after the Masters at Augusta in April.
After hitting his second shot into the water on the par-5 eighth hole, McIlroy heaved his club some 50 yards into the lake.
“I want to win”.
“All I can do is keep plugging away”. I think you guys are more desperate for it to happen than I am.
“But I felt like it was my time”.
The 2014 champion had four birdies and no dropped shots on the front nine but the inward nine has caused trouble to nearly everyone this week and McIlroy was unable to go under-par coming home.
World No. 1 Day, whose maiden major triumph came past year at Whistling Straits, conceded he had some work to do to prepare for his title defense, but felt in a good shape.
“I knew that he would ultimately come through and win and I’m happy that he did”.
McIlroy admitted that his approach play and his putting were not good enough today. I’m happy with where my game’s at. “So I feel like I’ve done pretty well this week considering everything”.
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“If I can drive the ball like I did this week and sharpen up a few bits and pieces, I think I’ll be right there”.
