McIlroy moving closer to glory

MISSION not quite accomplished but getting awfully close. That has to be the verdict for Rory McIlroy after the curtain came down on the 2010 major championships.

At 21 years and 103 days on Sunday at the US PGA Championship, he may have missed the opportunity to win his first major a day earlier than Tiger Woods did when he romped to the 1997 Masters at Augusta National.

In finishing level with former Masters winner Zach Johnson at Whistling Straits, one shot out of a play-off with eventual champion Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson, who tied for first after 72 holes, it may have been the third tie for third place in just nine major appearances, with a top 10 and a top 20 finish also achieved.

Yet despite those impressive finishes, this was the first time that McIlroy had actually put himself in a position to win a major championship going down the stretch on a Sunday afternoon, and for him that represented progress and the laying of another important foundation stone for a successful career.

“It’s the first time I have been in contention in the last round of a major and going out in the second last group,” McIlroy said on Sunday night following his closing three-birdie, three-bogey round of level-par 72 that gave him a 10-under-par finish.

“I was feeling it on the first tee and it was a new experience for me and today will stand me in good stead in the future.”

Had the last week convinced him that a first major victory was not far away? “I think so,” he replied. “I have put myself in position the last couple of majors, finished third at St Andrews and I will be top five here. It is not a bad week but I would have liked a little bit better.”

The disappointment was definitely deeply felt for McIlroy. On Saturday night, Germany’s Kaymer had said that a top-five finish at Whistling Straits would be “awesome”. McIlroy had loftier ambitions and that same night, when it was put to him that there was really only one position that he would find awesome, his response was succinct. “Yes,” he said.

It did not, of course, turn out that way and he pointed to a shaky start off the tee and a number of birdie opportunities with the putter that eluded him on the back nine, as well as a missed four-foot par putt at the 15th, at a time when he was in a tie for the lead.

“I’m okay. Had a few bad swings the first few holes and managed to recover well. Escaped well and a few chances went by on a few holes on the back nine. Just one of those days when I felt I hit good putts and nothing went in. I am pleased as I played nicely all week and I just needed to find one more shot in there on any of the four days. It’s disappointing.

“I was proud of (grinding it out). I didn’t hit it well and it wasn’t the start I wanted but I made a great up and down on the first, a great up and down at the third and really held it together on the front nine.

“The only thing thinking back was that putt on 15. I actually read it straight and it went left to right. Just one of those things.

“It was just one of those days where I gave myself chances on the back nine but nothing really happened... the margins are just so small in this game.”

Having missed cuts at the first two majors of the year, though, McIlroy can be more than satisfied with consecutive top-three finishes at the Open and USPGA and he should – and will – take a lot of positives from what he described as a “good learning week”.

“I stayed very patient and didn’t let anything get to me or my head drop once, which was one of the main objectives going ou ttoday. I was very happy with the way I dealt with the start. I was shaky and didn’t let my head drop and saved pars.

“It was a tough day and I felt I handled myself well. I only finished one out of the play-off and a putt here or there. I feel in myself I am ready to win one.”