Rory McIlroy laments Open Championship finish: 'I got beaten by the better player this week'

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Rory McIlroy started the fourth round of the Open Championship Sunday tied for first with a four-stroke lead over eventual winner Cam Smith.

McIlroy couldn’t find his stroke with the putter. 

He only made two birdies in the final round and finished with a 70, which probably would’ve won him the tournament if it weren’t for Smith’s eight birdies. McIlroy dropped to third place after Cameron Young recorded an eagle on 18.

The Northern Irishman talked with NBC’s Kathryn Tappen after the round.

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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his second shot on the fourth hole during the final round of The 150th Open on The Old Course at St. Andrews July 17, 2022, in St. Andrews, Scotland. (David Cannon/Getty Images)

"Just disappointment I guess," he said when asked his thoughts on the round. "I had a great opportunity to add to that major tally, and I didn’t quite get it done. Didn’t feel like I did many things wrong. The putter just sort of went cold on me there, pretty much throughout the round. I did what I wanted to do. I played a really controlled round of golf. I didn’t take advantage of some of the holes I had been taking advantage of this week.

"Both Camerons, but especially Cam Smith, went on that run on the back nine. I really had to try to dig deep and make some birdies, and I just couldn’t. I got beaten by the better player this week. To go out to shoot 64 to win an Open Championship at St. Andrews is a helluva showing. Hats off to Cam, he’s had an unbelievable week."

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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland acknowledges the crowd on the 18th