Rory McIlroy is trying to remain upbeat, but he admits that he has regrets coming off last week's near miss at the PGA Championship.
McIlroy held a one-shot lead after an opening 5-under-par 65 at Southern Hills on Thursday. But mistakes cost him as Justin Thomas eventually defeated Will Zalatoris in a playoff on Sunday.
“Regrets? Yeah, I regret I didn't take advantage of the benign conditions on Friday afternoon,” McIlroy said Thursday during a promotional press event.
“I regret the big numbers I made on the par threes on Saturday,” he continued. “The fact that I just needed to play the last 13 holes in one-under par to make a playoff on Sunday, and I didn't. So, yeah, I definitely feel like it was one that got away.”
McIlroy also sat 4 under after the first five holes of the final round in Tulsa, Okla., but bogeyed the sixth and then made 10 straight pars before dropping another shot on the 17th, a driveable par four.
Despite his regrets, McIlroy was not all doom and gloom.
“I have to take the positives and the fact that eighth place in a major is absolutely the worst I feel I could've finished last week,” he said. “That's a completely different story to where I was the last couple of years. The first two majors of last year, I missed the cut at Augusta and I finished like 50th at the PGA.
“I just have to stay as patient as possible,” he continued. “I know that if I keep playing the golf that I'm playing the chances are going to present themselves and I'm going to give myself a few more chances this year, not just to win majors but to win golf tournaments in general.”
The 33-year-old, four-time major winner has plenty of upcoming opportunities to right the ship when he returns to action in next week's Memorial Tournament then attempts to defend his title in the RBC Canadian Open. He will also contest the Travelers Championship and the JP McManus Pro-Am before missing the Irish Open to prepare for The 150th Open at St. Andrews.