Rory McIlroy acknowledges challenges following his Masters victory

Rory McIlroy Reflects After US Open

OAKMONT, Pa. — Rory McIlroy’s challenging week at the US Open wrapped up on Sunday, where he delivered his best rounds of the tournament and had the lowest score of the day at Oakmont.

Once it was all over, a weary McIlroy confessed he could use a little break in his new home outside of London.

“It’s always nice to go home,” he shared. “When I’m away, I’m a dad and a husband. Here, it feels good to escape and have a bit of normalcy.”

However, his downtime will have to wait as he prepares for the Travelers Championship in Hartford, Connecticut this week.

Last year, McIlroy skipped the Travelers and sought solace in Manhattan following a tough loss at Pinehurst. This time around, he’s aiming to bounce back from the aftermath of his Masters victory in April, a landmark win for him.

Since that significant achievement, his performance hasn’t been ideal. He placed 47th at the PGA Championship and struggled to make the cut at Oakmont after failing to qualify at the Canadian Open the previous week.

“We’re looking forward to it. I’ll be getting a new place in London and then play the Scottish Open, plus Portrush is coming up,” he mentioned. “[I’m] just trying to get my head in the right space to prepare for those events.”

McIlroy has been open about the challenges of reigniting his competitive drive after reaching such a high point at Augusta. He hopes that the upcoming British events, not far from his childhood home, will inspire him.

“If I can’t find motivation for the Open Championship at home, I’m not sure what will,” he admitted, referencing Portrush as a major motivation.

“I really just need to get my mindset right,” he acknowledged. “I probably haven’t been at my best lately. But hopefully, spending a few weeks at home will help refresh me and bring me back to where I need to be.”

McIlroy shot a 67 on Sunday and felt encouraged after describing his performance as “Close.”

“Physically, my game feels solid,” he said.

He also reflected on his emotional experience at Portrush in 2019, where he missed the cut.

“I didn’t expect to feel that emotional about Portrush,” he recalled. “I remember hitting a shot and feeling overwhelmed with the crowd’s response. I honestly felt like crying.”