Rory McIlroy’s memorable U.S. Open week concluded on a quieter note Sunday at Sinekook, where he finished the day about two hours behind the leaders.
Despite playing well overall, he struggled with too many bogeys and ended up 6 over par, with quite a bit of ground left to cover.
“I think at this point, the course has gotten the upper hand on me,” McIlroy remarked about Shinnecock. It felt promising when I was at 2 under after the ninth, but everything fell apart during the back nine where I really struggled.
“At that moment, it felt like I was out of the tournament altogether. I left the course last night feeling pretty disappointed. But today I tried to focus on staying positive and making the best shots I could. Still, I racked up a few bogeys on the front nine and just wanted to finish strong on the 18th,” he added.
Entering the weekend at even par, McIlroy ended up shooting a pair of 73s when he really needed to step it up.
Looking ahead, McIlroy mentioned he’s gearing up for the British Open. “I think I’m going to focus on links golf this week. This time of year is my favorite to head home and play the British Open. I get to spend some quality time there,” he noted.
“This course [Shinnecock] had some similarities to the British Open regarding how the weekend went, but I’d love to play more links golf in the upcoming weeks,” he said.
On another note, Jackson Koibun and Ryder Cowan shared the title for Low Amateur, both finishing at five over. Koibun fired a 68 in the final round while Cowan recorded a 73. Meanwhile, 17-year-old prodigy Myles Russell ended with a score of seven over.
“I had a blast at Shinnecock this weekend, and coming away with a birdie on the last hole was a great way to finish,” Koibun said, adding that he was proud of his efforts. “It’s a good way to step into the professional realm,” he said.
When asked about his mindset as he transitions into professional play, Koibun mentioned, “Not much has changed. I just plan to keep enjoying myself out there.”
Cowan expressed that tying for Low Amateur is a significant achievement for him, noting it boosts his confidence. “It feels great to compete alongside the top players,” he said.
Russell, the youngest player at the championship, reflected on the week as “truly special.” He considered qualifying to be a bonus and described the experience as fantastic.
He also had the joyful experience of carrying his dad’s bag throughout the week, making Father’s Day all the more memorable. “Walking up to the 18th with him was such a cool experience. I hope he remembers it for a long time,” Russell said.
Turning to another competitor, Keith Mitchell, known affectionately as “Cashmere Keith” for his stylish outfits, also had an eventful week. He started with a double bogey on his first hole and shot 41 on the front nine. However, he rallied back with a remarkable 29 on his back nine on Thursday, finishing tied for fourth at even par, securing his spot in the 2027 U.S. Open.
Briton Tyrrell Hatton wrapped up his week with a solid 67 on Sunday, finishing at 1 over, tying with Joaquin Niemann as LIV Golf’s most successful player of the week.
“It was a solid round, and given the wind conditions, it felt much better than the previous three days,” Hatton said, expressing satisfaction with his performance. After finishing, he felt hopeful about ranking in the top ten and qualifying for next year’s U.S. Open, ultimately wrapping up in a tie for seventh.
