Rory McIlroy's US Open bid took a hit on Saturday as he finished with a 3-over 73. He made five bogeys on the back nine, severely damaging his chances.
What happened?
Rory McIlroy had a promising start, making three straight birdies on Nos. 5-7, but his back nine was a different story. He bogeyed Nos. 10, 12, 14, 15, and 18.
He was in the 10th fairway, just 49 yards from the hole, when his second shot bounced on the green but rolled well off it. This was the second straight day he botched 10 from within 100 yards in the fairway.
Why it matters for Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy's collapse on the back nine left him 10 shots behind Wyndham Clark. He felt he was still in the tournament after making three straight bogeys in his second round on Friday.
But on Saturday, there were too many mistakes and not enough birdies. Rory McIlroy opened the tournament with a 69 but has struggled badly to figure out Shinnecock's second nine since then.
What comes next?
Rory McIlroy quickly left Shinnecock Hills after his round, declining interview requests. He had been hoping to make a move if he avoided errors, but it was not to be.
The Masters champion will now have to regroup and focus on his next tournament. His chances of winning the US Open are slim, but he will be looking to bounce back from this disappointment.
Rory McIlroy's finish on Saturday was a stark contrast to his promising start. He will be disappointed with his performance, but he will be looking to learn from his mistakes and come back stronger.
The US Open has been a challenging tournament for Rory McIlroy so far. He will be hoping to end on a high note, but for now, his chances of winning are all but over.
Rory McIlroy's fans will be disappointed with his performance, but they will still be rooting for him to bounce back. He has shown his class and skill in the past, and they will be hoping he can do so again.
The final round of the US Open will be an interesting one, with Wyndham Clark in the lead. Rory McIlroy will not be giving up, but his chances of winning are slim.
He will be looking to finish the tournament on a high note, regardless of his position on the leaderboard. Rory McIlroy is a champion, and he will be looking to show his class and skill in the final round.