McIlroy in positive mood for US Open

Rory McIlroy shrugged off the final hole flop that cost him the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis and arrived at the US Open insisting he had high hopes of defending his title.

Despite hooking his three-wood tee shot into the water at the 18th when tied for the lead and then three-putting for a double bogey that relegated him to seventh behind Dustin Johnson at TPC Southwind, the world number two is convinced his game is on the rise.

“I saw a lot of positive signs this week. I got in a good position after 11 holes of the final round and hit a couple of [loose] shots coming in,” said McIlroy.

“Overall it’s still a pretty good week. I wanted to come here just to get some competitive rounds. I said in the early part of the week, if I got into contention, that was great. I did that.”

Yet while no-one made more birdies in Memphis than the 23-year-old, McIlroy also had 14 bogeys and a double which is hardly the kind of form that will strike fear into the hearts of the USGA.

Executive director Mike Davis would appear determined to avoid a repeat of McIlroy’s record-setting 16-under-par winning score at Congressional last year and described the opening six holes at The Olympic Club as “beyond brutal.”

So if McIlroy believes he has sorted out the technical issues that bugged him at Sawgrass, Wentworth and Muirfield Village they will be put to the test this week.

What was truly impressive about Memphis was the way he battled into a share of the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th and then tried to play the “right” shot at the last. It didn’t come off but while his hopes sank in a watery grave, McIlroy can take pride from the fact he put his neck on the line, as Pádraig Harrington likes to say. When he looks back at his year as US Open champion, he’ll realise how much he has learned.

“This year has been a big learning curve for me because I’m still trying to find a balance between being a top-class golfer and handling media commitments, sponsors’ commitments, trying to have a life outside of all that, just trying to balance everything.”

He’s arguably the best equipped of a the Irish contingent to contend here — Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Peter Lawrie make up Ireland’s US Open challenge. But his US Open form on firm and fast courses doesn’t bode well.

Meanwhile Graeme McDowell will be drawing on fond memories of his Pebble Beach triumph when he tees it up in his seventh US Open at the Olympic Club.

McDowell captured the 2010 US Open just down the road at Pebble Beach and then returned to the Golden State the following December to deny Tiger Woods in a play-off for the Target World Challenge.

“The air feels the same, it’s got that ocean breeze feel to it,” McDowell said of Olympic Club.

Despite the tough start, McDowell reckons the last three holes featuring back-to-back par fives and a 344-yard 18th — will give the field a chance to regain lost ground. It’s not the most intimidating US Open finish ever,” McDowell said. “I’d give my left arm for a one-shot lead playing the 17th. You’d fancy your chances. It’s not like trying to close it out at Oakmont or Winged Foot, where you’re really trying to get the job done.”

Yet after watching his wedge to the 18th hit a cypress tree end up in deep rough, he added: “Someone will make a real mess of 18. I’m predicting that right now.”