RORY'S SWEET DREAM AFTER LATEST MAJOR NIGHTMARE

Mcllroy so close again in Los Angeles but it's made him even more determined for success at Hoylake

- ANDY NEWPORT

RORY MCILROY is convinced his next Major triumph will be all the sweeter for his agonising near miss in Los Angeles.

The Northern Irishman arrived in California hoping to bring an end to a nine-year wait to claim one of golf's biggest prizes. But he left the US Open rocked by more frustration after losing out to unfancied American Wyndham Clark.

It was the closest the 34-year-old world No.3 has come to lifting a Major since the last of his four triumphs - the 2014 US PGA Championship - as he came up just one shot shy of the 125-1 outsider. Mcllroy insists he is more determined than ever to add to his Major legacy and is already targeting next month's Open at Royal Liverpool.

He said: "It is exhausting but at the same time, when I do finally win this next Major, it's going to be really, really sweet.