Rory McIlroy rues ‘lost opportunity' as focus turns to PGA test

Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar were still duking it out at Royal Birkdale yesterday evening as Rory McIlroy’s attention turned towards the PGA Championship and a final shot in 2017 of breaking a three-year major drought.

The Irishman collected another big cheque (€412,000) for his tie for fourth alongside Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello at five under par, secured with a closing three-under-par 67 but the overriding feeling was that this was yet another major championship that had passed McIlroy by.

The world number four has to hark back to the PGA Championship at Valhalla in his golden summer of 2014 for the last time he lifted some significant silverware, the sizeable Wanamaker Trophy.