Rory McIlroy expressed frustration over squandered opportunities at the PGA Championship, before swiftly turning his attention to the next major on the 2026 calendar.
The Northern Irishman, who was pursuing consecutive major titles, began the final round at Aronimink Golf Club in south-west Philadelphia just three shots adrift of the leader.
Despite carding a one-under-par 69, he was unable to mount the necessary Sunday charge, ultimately finishing five strokes behind winner Aaron Rai.
McIlroy lamented several missed birdie chances throughout the final round and his failure to capitalise on the two par-fives, though he found satisfaction in being in contention after an opening round of 74.
“I played good golf in the last two rounds. I gave myself a chance and that’s all I could really ask for after Thursday,” McIlroy stated.
He added: “I’ll rue three holes today that I didn’t take advantage of and that was the difference between a top five and having a realistic chance today.”
The 37-year-old reflected on his major championship approach, noting: “I lean on my experience and I lean on my ability to get the ball in the hole, which is probably better than it ever has been. You know, my chipping and my putting and scrambling. A set-up like this, that’s what you have to rely on.”
McIlroy was aiming for his seventh career major, a victory that would have seen him surpass Sir Nick Faldo’s tally and establish him as the most successful European of the modern era. This ambition will now be carried forward to next month’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York.
“Shinnecock is going to provide a very different test to what we saw this week,” he explained. “I’ll go there a little bit early again, try to get some prep in and re-familiarise myself with that golf course a bit.
“Short game is going to have to be very sharp that week. Greens very similar to the greens here, the run-offs and slopes, except there’s not the thick rough around the greens. It’s more tighter lies and the ball gets away from the greens a little bit, which is sort of more like I like it.”
A win at the PGA would have kept alive the possibility of a calendar Grand Slam, a prospect McIlroy admitted had briefly crossed his mind.
“Not really that much. I think it’s unlikely, of course I was the only person that had a chance to do it,” he said. “I’d say it crossed my mind after yesterday.
“I’m like, ‘oh if I could play a really good round of golf here today, you never know’. But I haven’t thought about it that much. I feel like I set pretty lofty goals but that one is bordering on unrealistic.”
