Rory McIlroy was pleased to finish the 2025 U.S. Open on a positive note as he switches his focus to returning to Europe and the 153rd Open on home soil.
The reigning Masters Champion ended a difficult week on a high on Sunday as he shot six birdies in a closing 67 to reach seven over par at the tricky Oakmont Country Club.
After teeing it up at next week's Travelers Championship on the PGA TOUR, Ryder Cup star McIlroy will return to Europe ahead of July's Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland.
McIlroy said: "We've got a lot to look forward to - got our new house in London, play the Scottish and then obviously The Open at Portrush.
"I'm just trying to get myself in the right frame of mind to approach that.
"I feel like playing an Open at Portrush already and sort of at least remembering what those feelings were like and those feelings that I was probably unprepared for at the time.
"Yeah, and obviously it will be my first time sort of in public back home after winning the Masters. It should be a really nice week.
"Hopefully I can celebrate with them on Sunday night with the Claret Jug and the Green Jacket!
"It will be amazing to go home and play in that atmosphere and see a lot of people that I still haven't seen yet. I'm really looking forward to it.
"It was nice to end this week with a bit of a positive note with the way I played today, and yeah, I'll just be looking forward to and trying to get myself prepared for Portrush."
Meanwhile, Robert MacIntyre showed great sportsmanship as he applauded JJ Spaun's winning putt at the U.S. Open on Sunday despite it ending the Scot's own hopes of securing his maiden Major Championship title.
MacIntyre started the day seven shots off the lead but gave himself every chance of claiming victory by shooting a stunning 68 in the weather-affected final round to set the clubhouse target at +1
But the home favourite drained his 65-foot putt for a birdie to clinch a two-shot victory, and MacIntyre reacted by clapping repeatedly and saying 'wow'.
He said: "Obviously I didn't get off to the best of starts. I was two over through three and then holed a lovely putt on the fourth, par five for eagle.
"That kind of settled me down. That got me into somewhat of a groove and back in the golf tournament.
"Then the back nine was just all about fighting. Obviously the rain delay. My previous rain delay comebacks haven't been strong.
"Today was a day that I said to myself, 'Why not? Why can't it be me today' when I was going round, and I just trusted myself, trusted my caddie Mike, trusted all the work that I've done."
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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