ESPN Golf: McIlroy Pivots to Links Prep After U.S. Open Disappointment

McIlroy Struggles on Weekend at U.S. Open

Rory McIlroy closed out the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills with back-to-back 73s over the weekend, finishing T32 at 6-over par. While several former U.S. Open champions including DeChambeau, Koepka, Rahm, and Spaun missed the cut, McIlroy couldn't mount a serious challenge for the title he last won 15 years ago.

Back Nine on Saturday Proved Costly

McIlroy reached 2-under par through his front nine on Saturday, briefly entering contention. However, a collapse on the back nine effectively ended his chances. "The wheels came off," he admitted, acknowledging that a single bad stretch derailed his entire week.

Links Focus Ahead of The Open Championship

Looking ahead, McIlroy will skip the Travelers Championship to return home to Northern Ireland for dedicated links golf preparation. The 2014 Open Champion sees this as the most efficient route to sharpening his game before July's major. He noted that Shinnecock's firm, wind-affected conditions over the weekend bore some resemblance to a links setup — offering at least partial preparation value.

Strokeslab Perspective

For a data-driven lens, McIlroy's weekend likely saw significant SG: APP and SG: ATG drops on his back nine Saturday. His decision to bypass a stroke-play event in favor of links-specific practice reflects smart major preparation, particularly given his strong historical performance at The Open.