Add The New York Post on Google Rory McIlroy’s forgettable U.S. Open week ended rather quietly Sunday at Shinnecock as he finished his day some two hours before the leaders.
He finished 6 over par, miles from contention, after a week in which he followed good stretches of play with too many bogeys to set himself back.
“I think it won the battle over me at this point,’’ McIlroy said of Shinnecock. “Looking back on the entire week, I’ll obviously rue the back nine [Saturday]. I got myself to 2 under par for the tournament after nine and then the wheels came off and played a really bad back nine.
“I sort of shot myself out of the tournament then. Obviously, I was really disappointed coming away from the course last night. You try to come out here [Sunday] positive and you try to muster up the energy to put a good one in there, but a couple of bogeys on the front nine, I was just trying to race my way to the 18th green.’’
McIlroy was even par entering the weekend and shot a pair of 73s when he needed better golf.
McIlroy said his next move is preparing for the British Open.
“I’ll be playing some links golf this week probably coming up,’’ he said. “It’s my favorite time of the year to go back home and play, play the Open, and I get to spend a bit of time back there.
“This [Shinnecock] was not too dissimilar to an Open Championship in terms of how the golf course started to play over the weekend, but a bit of links golf over the next couple weeks will be nice.’’
Jackson Koivun and Ryder Cowan tied for the honor as low amateur for the week, finishing 5 over. Koivun shot a final-round 68 and Cowan a 73. Miles Russell, the 17-year-old phenom, finished 7 over.
“Shinnecock was so much fun this weekend,’’ Koivun said. “Just happy to walk away with a birdie on the last hole. But just happy to be able to say I went out there and tried my hardest.’’
Koivun is about to turn pro, saying, “Yeah, that’s a good way to go out. We’re on to the next leagues now.’’
Asked if it changes his mindset as he enters the new phase of his career, Koivun said, “Not much. Just go out there and keep enjoying it, keep having fun.’’
Cowan said tying for low am “means a lot,’’ adding, “It’s a big accomplishment for me. It gives me a lot of confidence and just that I know I can come out here and compete with the best.”
Russell, the youngest player in the field who looks even younger than 17, described his U.S. Open experience as “a pretty special week.’’
“Just to be here was really special, and to make the cut was kind of bonus points,’’ he said. “I didn’t quite have my best stuff the last two days, but still really cool. Just a great experience.’’
Russell had his father on his bag for the week, making Father’s Day even more special.
“It was pretty cool just there walking up 18 [with him],’’ he said. “It was kind of a fun Father’s Day gift. Hopefully, it’s something he’ll remember for a long time.’’
What a wild week for Keith Mitchell, one of the player favorites on the PGA Tour and nicknamed “Cashmere Keith’’ for his snappy attire.
He began his week with a double bogey on his first hole of the tournament and shot 41 on his first nine holes. He rallied with a 29 on his back nine Thursday and remained in contention right through Sunday, finishing even par and tied for fourth.
Englishman Tyrrell Hatton tied Joaquin Niemann as the low LIV Golf player for the week, finishing 1 over after shooting 67 on Sunday.
“It was a pretty solid round of golf,’’ Hatton said. “The conditions with the wind favorable was certainly a more enjoyable experience than the first three days. I was happy to go out and play a pretty decent round of golf.’’
When he got off the course, Hatton said he’d be scoreboard watching hoping he’d remain in the top 10, which would earn him a spot in next year’s U.S. Open. He did, finishing tied for seventh.
