Rory McIlroy's US Open challenge came unstuck at Shinnecock Hills, with the world number two finishing a disappointing six-over par after posting consecutive rounds of 73 over the weekend.
The Masters champion, who was chasing a second US Open title, couldn't hide his frustration after the demanding New York course got the better of him.
"I think it won the battle over me at this point," McIlroy said following his final round on Sunday.
The 37-year-old's weekend struggles saw him slip well out of contention behind leader Wyndham Clark.
Rory McIlroy endured a difficult US Open campaign
|REUTERS
Saturday's third round proved to be McIlroy's undoing. He'd played himself into a promising position, reaching two-under par for the tournament after the front nine, even stringing together three birdies in a row at one stage.
Then it all fell apart.
"The wheels came off and I played a really bad back nine," McIlroy admitted. "I sort of shot myself out of the tournament then."
Five bogeys in those final nine holes left him with a three-over 73, tumbling 10 strokes behind Clark heading into Sunday.
It was damage he simply couldn't recover from.
Rory McIlroy even told himself to "go home" after one wayward shot on Sunday
|REUTERS
Sunday offered little respite for the Northern Irishman.
After bogeys on three of his opening five holes, McIlroy's body language told the whole story. He was visibly frustrated after a poor approach to the third green, even muttering that he should "just go home."
"You try to come out here today positive and you try to muster up the energy to put a good one in there," he explained. "But after a couple of bogeys on the front nine, I was just trying to race my way to the 18th green."
It marked his worst US Open finish since the championship was last held at Shinnecock Hills back in 2018.
Despite the disappointment, McIlroy's spirits lifted when talk turned to what lies ahead.
The six-time major winner will skip next week's Travelers Championship before returning at the Genesis Scottish Open from 9-12 July, an event he won in 2023.
Then comes The Open at Royal Birkdale, where he'll chase a second Claret Jug having last lifted the trophy in 2014.
"It's my favourite time of the year to go back home and play The Open and get to spend a bit of time back there," McIlroy said.
"Just go home, Rory" 😡
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 21, 2026
Rory McIlroy was NOT happy after this approach shot 👀 pic.twitter.com/ganjaZ4t4r
He noted that Shinnecock Hills played similarly to an Open Championship venue, so some links golf over the coming weeks should suit him nicely.