Rory McIlroy 'feels close but also so far away' as he seeks return to form after scrappy US PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy admitted he “feels close but also so far away” to the sort of form he needs to end his drought in majors after a scrappy week at the US PGA Championship in which he didn’t play his best stuff but still rallied to finish in a tie for seventh. The Northern Irishman, who last landed one of golf’s marquee titles back at this event in 2014, came into the second men’s major of the year after a missed cut at The Masters which forced him to take a break from the game, with all eyes on him to see how he would fare in his bid to bounce back. Ad He cut a forlorn figure during a ragged front nine on Thursday before kick-starting his recovery with a 35-foot par save that sparked him into life as he salvaged a first-round 71.

He was amazed to find himself only five back heading into the final round and capped off a battling performance with a third successive 69 at Oak Hill to finish two-under, seven behind eventual winner Brooks Koepka. GolfFive great moments from the US PGA Championship: Record-breaking McIlroy, Tiger holds on15/05/2023 AT 14:41 «I'll look back on this week as proud of how I hung in there, and I guess my attitude and sticking to it, not having my best stuff,» McIlroy said. «I just came in here trying to play a golf tournament, not thinking about getting myself in contention and not thinking about winning.

»I honestly didn't feel like I had a chance of winning this week, so it was just about going out there and playing the best I could and trying to make the most of it. «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. It just doesn’t