Rory McIlroy Makes Strong Career Statement After US Open
Rory McIlroy Makes Strong Career Statement After US Open originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
It was a tough weekend for the world's No. 2 golfer, Rory McIlroy. He was never really in contention at Oakmont, but he managed to finish strong on Sunday.
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McIlroy posted rounds of 74, 72, 74, and a final-day 67 to finish +7 for the tournament. When he completed his round, he was tied for 23rd overall. His 3-under score on Sunday tied Jon Rahm for the best round of the day.
The 36-year-old had admitted both before and during the U.S. Open that he struggled to find motivation. Earlier this season, he completed the career grand slam by winning the Masters at Augusta, which may have contributed to a sense of emotional plateau.
In an interview after Sunday's final round, McIlroy was candid about his mindset and future goals. Golf.com reported a portion of his post-round comments.
"Rory McIlroy just spoke to the media following his final round at the U.S. Open," it posted on X.
McIlroy is how he started:
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"If I can't get motivated to get up for an Open Championship at home, then I don't know what can motivate me," McIlroy said.
He expanded on how achieving a major career milestone left him searching for new inspiration.
"I climbed my Everest in April, and I think after you do something like that, you've got to make your way back down, and you've got to look for another mountain to climb. An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those," he added.
Rory McIlroy at Quail Hollow. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The U.S. Open was McIlroy's first career major victory, which he earned back in 2011 with an eight-shot win over Jason Day. By making the cut this year, McIlroy extended his streak to seven straight made cuts at the event.
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Looking ahead to the Open Championship, McIlroy will be aiming for his second title at the event. He won it in 2014 but was unable to defend his title in 2015 after withdrawing due to an ankle injury. He made the cut three consecutive years after that, though he missed the cut last season, snapping a run of back-to-back top-6 finishes.
Related: Scottie Scheffler Earns New Nickname After 16th PGA Tour Win
Related: Scottie Scheffler Reacts to Ryder Cup Announcement on Thursday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
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