Rory McIlroy was left to surprise when he’ll finish his wait to declare an elusive fifth major title after seeing the British Open slip from his grasp in a dramatic closing spherical at St Andrews on Sunday.
The Northern Irishman had been in a share of the lead in a single day alongside Norway’s Viktor Hovland and reached the flip in his fourth spherical in entrance on his personal by a margin of two strokes.
A primary major since 2014 appeared a certainty at that time and he went on to put up a bogey-free 70 to end on 18 beneath par for the week.
However, it was finally in useless as Cameron Smith surged away with a 64 to take the Claret Jug on 20-under.
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“At the end of the day, it’s not life or death. I’ll have other chances to win the Open Championship and other chances to win majors,” McIlroy insisted.
“It’s one that I feel like I let slip away, but there will be other opportunities.”
While Smith went on a exceptional run of 5 straight birdies from the tenth on Sunday, McIlroy noticed a collection of birdie putts come up agonisingly quick or simply miss.
He ended up having to accept third place after additionally seeing Cameron Young climb above him to end as the runner-up and take half one million {dollars} extra in prize cash.
“I’ll rue a few missed putts that slid by. But it’s been a good week overall,” McIlroy insisted.
“I can’t be too despondent because of how this year has gone. I’m playing some of the best golf I’ve played in a long time. So it’s just a matter of keeping knocking on the door, and eventually one will open.”
The 33-year-old had arrived in St Andrews as the favorite, partially due to his standing but in addition due to his very good kind this 12 months.
McIlroy was the runner-up behind Scottie Scheffler within the Masters in April, got here eighth on the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in May, after which tied fifth finally month’s US Open.
He additionally gained the Canadian Open simply earlier than heading to Brookline.
There is a powerful case to say that McIlroy has been essentially the most constant participant anyplace this 12 months, even when he fell simply quick within the majors.
‘Keep believing’
“I’ve just got to keep putting myself in position, keep putting myself in there. And whenever you put yourself in that shining light, you’re going to have to deal with setbacks and deal with failures,” he mentioned after coming off the Old Course on Sunday.
“Today is one of those times. But I just have to dust myself off and come again and keep working hard and keep believing.”
He appeared unstoppable within the early years of his profession, when he romped to victory within the US Open in 2011, cruised to victory within the PGA Championship the next 12 months after which gained the British Open at Hoylake in 2014 earlier than including one other PGA title a couple of weeks later.
Incredibly, his major drought since then goes to prolong right into a ninth 12 months, though he has now had 9 top-five finishes in majors within the intervening interval.
“I’ve been close and I keep knocking on the door. I can’t get too down on myself because the game is there. It’s just a matter of staying patient,” he mentioned.
There is bound to be an adrenaline comedown after this week, and with the major season now over for 2022, McIlroy plans a brief break earlier than the FedEx Cup playoffs subsequent month, beginning with the St Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee.
“I’ve got three weeks off. I’m not going to play again until the first playoff event in Memphis,” he mentioned.
“I’ve bought a little bit of time to relaxation and recuperate and check out to take the positives, be taught from the negatives, and transfer on.
“It’s probably the greatest seasons I’ve had in a very long time. I would like to end the season off properly.
“There’s still some golf to play. Major season is over unfortunately, but I still feel like there’s a little bit to play for.”