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.