McIlroy fit and ready for US Open assault
RORY McILROY is targeting a fifth career major after getting the green light to compete in the US Open next week.
McIlroy, 28, has recovered from the rib injury which has disrupted his year and will arrive in Wisconsin having played just four 72-hole events since January, and only one since The Masters.
‘I am ready for Erin Hills and looking forward to playing there for the first time,’ said McIlroy.
‘The last few weeks have obviously been frustrating. I never like to miss events either on the PGA Tour or European Tour but it was important I got back to a level of fitness where I felt like I could give myself the best possible chance at the US Open.
‘As I have said many times before, majors will ultimately determine my golf career, but I have had the rest of this busy season to consider as well,’ added the world number two.
McIlroy yesterday tweeted a video of himself hitting a shot with the caption: ‘Good progress made over the past 2 weeks in @Quinta_do_Lago Portugal. Excited for the US Open.’
Phil Mickelson has already signalled his intention to miss the US Open — the only major to elude him — to attend his daughter’s graduation.
Shane Lowry is building towards another strong US Open show after tying for 15th behind Jason Dufner in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village on Sunday.
Lowry, who was runner-up to Dustin Johnson last year at Oakmont, carded a final round of 73 to finish five under par, which was worth $143,500.
It was another positive week for Lowry, following his topsix finish at the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth.
Dufner took advantage of a poor final round from Daniel Summerhays to win the Memorial Tournament.
Summerhays took a threeshot lead into the final round at Ohio and was well placed to claim his first PGA Tour title.
However, the 33-year-old from Utah wilted as former US PGA champion Dufner hit back from a third round 77 to land a fifth PGA Tour title.
Dufner’s final round 68 contained seven birdies and three bogeys and left him on 13 under par, three shots clear of Anirban Lahiri and Rickie Fowler.
Summerhays, third in last year’s PGA Championship, saw his hopes end with a 78 which included four bogeys and a double bogey.
The two dropped shots at the final hole cost him a share of fourth place with Matt Kuchar and Justin Thomas and left him tied for 10th.
India’s Lahiri forced his way onto a leaderboard dominated by players from the United States with a final round 65 which contained no dropped shots.
Fowler was in contention but, after four birdies, his challenge ended with bogeys on the 14th and 18th as he signed for a 70.
Defending champion William McGirt had a final round to forget — an 83 which saw him finish 21 shots off the pace on eight over.
Padraig Harrington also shot a closing 73 in Columbus to finish 31st on one under par.