McIlroy rues 'another missed opportunity' to end major drought

Rory McIlroy believes an end to his major drought is getting closer after having to settle for a top-five finish at the 122nd US Open.

McIlroy went into the final day three strokes back and made the dream start with an opening-hole birdie, only to mix five birdies with four bogeys in an eventful final-round 69.

The Northern Irishman finished four strokes back in tied-fifth as Matt Fitzpatrick secured a maiden major victory, with McIlroy pleased with his performance but disappointed not to come closer to a second win in as many weeks.

"I'll look back at this as another missed opportunity just as Southern Hills was, but missed opportunities are better than not contending at all," McIlroy said. "So that is a positive. I have to stay patient at this point because if I just keep putting myself in position, sooner or later it's going to be my day and I'm going to get one.

"It's not win or bust. It's not as if where I finished today is the same as not playing on the weekend. I guess when I look back, will I remember the fifth place I had at Brookline? Probably not.

"Yeah, there's positives to take from it. I played well enough to give myself a chance to win. I didn't get the job done, but I'm closer than I have been in a while, which is good."

After rolling in from 25 feet at the first, McIlroy cancelled out a bogey at the third by holing a 20-foot birdie at the fourth but then dropped another shot at the driveable next after electing to putt from off the green.

Video: Rory McIlroy 'frustrated' with final hole bogey at US Open (The Independent)

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