McIlroy aims to change the pain of Pinehurst into another major feat

A TOTAL of 31 days have passed since his Pinehurst collapse, so is it too soon for a Rory McIlroy renaissance at Royal Troon?

- Matt Majendie

This year's Open had looked set to be the one when finally the Northern Irishman no longer had to field questions about when a next Major win might follow, 10 years after the last. But then those horrible putts inside four feet failed to drop (below, showing the pain), and the questions still linger.

McIlroy may simply be a remarkably good actor, but he has shown a sunny disposition since arriving in Scotland, first for the Scottish Open, where he finished fourth, and now for the final Major of 2024.

And he has tried to exude the impression that all is well both in his head and in his game, although it takes a stretch to fully believe he is over it fully, such was the agony of the US Open and his immediate disappearance in a waiting car moments later.

The 35-year-old is adamant it took days, rather than weeks, to get over the pain, the missed opportunities, the what-might-have-been.