Mindset change edging Rory McIlroy closer to another US Open title

“Obviously getting my hands on a fifth major has taken quite a while, but I'm more confident than ever that I'm right there, that I'm as close as I've ever been."

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and his caddie, Harry Diamond, prepare for a shot on the second hole during a practice round prior to the US Open at Pinehurst. Picture: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy once again arrived to his third major of the year fashionably late on Tuesday morning, giving himself 36 hours to prepare to play one of the trickiest golf courses in the world, Pinehurst No. 2. It’s been 10 years since McIlroy last saw it, and a lot has changed from the mature waste areas to the greens being converted to Bermudagrass.

But McIlroy arrives at his 16th career U.S. Open feeling good about his chances to add his name to the trophy for a second time. After a string of missed U.S. Open cuts from 2016-18, he’s posted five consecutive top-10 finishes, trending closer every year – T9, T8, T7, T5 and solo second last year a shot behind Wyndham Clark. There’s only one place to improve this year.