Rory McIlroy believes having lower expectations paid dividends as he battled to a top-10 finish in the US PGA Championship. McIlroy had cut a subdued figure before play got under way at Oak Hill, a legacy of his dispiriting missed cut in the Masters as his latest attempt to complete a career grand slam ended prematurely.
The 34-year-old was also feeling under the weather and struggling with his long game, but followed an opening 71 with three straight 69s to finish two under par, seven shots behind winner Brooks Koepka. “I’ll look back on this week as proud of how I hung in there and I guess (proud of) my attitude and sticking to it, not having my best stuff,” McIlroy said. “I guess I just came in here trying to play a golf tournament, honestly not thinking about getting myself in contention.
I honestly didn’t feel like I had a chance of winning this week. “I feel sort of close but also so far away at the same time.
It’s hard to explain. I feel like sometimes it was the worst I could have played, but then at the same time it’s like the best I could have done. “It’s weird.