McIlroy: Shinnecock Hills 'won the battle over me'
World number two Rory McIlroy finished six-over at the US Open, admitting the Shinnecock Hills course overpowered him. He rued a poor back nine on Saturday that ruined his chance for a second US Open title.
Rory McIlroy, the world number two and Masters champion, finished the US Open at six-over par, saying the Shinnecock Hills course "won the battle over me." His final round of 73 included three birdies and four bogeys, ending his hopes for a second US Open victory.
The 37-year-old attributed his downfall to a poor finish on Saturday. After reaching two-under par through nine holes, he made five bogeys on the back nine to end the day at even par, seven strokes behind leader Wyndham Clark.
"I think it won the battle over me at this point," McIlroy told BBC Sport NI's Gavin Andrews. "I will rue the back nine yesterday. I got myself to two under par after nine, then the wheels came off. I played a really bad back nine and shot myself out of the tournament."
Despite trying to stay positive Sunday, a few bogeys on the front nine left him just trying to get to the 18th green. McIlroy now looks ahead to the Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Birkdale in July. "It's my favourite time of the year to go back home and play the Open," he said. "This weekend wasn't too dissimilar to an Open Championship in how the course played, but some links golf over the next couple of weeks will be nice."
