Shinnecock convinced Rory McIlroy he had everything backwards, now he’s hunting U.S. Open win there

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Published Jun 18, 2026  •  2 minute read

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after making par on the 17th green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. Photo by Kate McShane /Getty Images

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SOUTHHAMPTON, N.Y. — Rory McIlroy’s results in major championships improved once he realized he had everything backwards.

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The revelation occurred the last time the U.S. Open was played at Shinnecock, when McIlroy opened with an 80 and didn’t see the weekend.

“I played those two days in 2018, and then I got to the Travelers the next week. I remember like feeling so much in my comfort zone going to TPC River Highlands and thinking to myself, I’ve got this backwards. I should be in my comfort zone at Shinnecock and not here,” he said after shooting a one-under 69 on Thursday.

“It was an effort really,” he said. “It hasn’t looked as if I’ve went and done a rebuild of my game, but it’s felt like it in terms of the way I approach the game and the value I place on certain shots and certain skills within the game.”

At the time, McIlroy’s beautiful sky-high draw and attacking style was the envy of many, but it was better-suited for week-to-week play on the PGA Tour than in the crucible of major championships on the toughest setups of the year.

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Focus is on majors

“I remember flying back from Dubai at the end of 2018, and I would keep, like, a journal or a diary,” he said. “I wrote in it that from 2019 going forward, I’m going to build my game to compete at the major championships and excel at the toughest tests that we have.”

“Working on the things that you need to do well to excel at these, which is flighting the ball, hitting your numbers, wedge play, short game, putting, which is all the stuff that I feel like I’ve improved over the last few years.”

Time has a way of rounding the harsh edges, but longtime golf fans will remember back when Rory was racking up majors in the early-to-mid 2010s, there were questions whether he could win a major in firm and fast conditions. The narrative being that his early career-defining wins all came in “easy” major conditions.

McIlroy has repeatedly said — even before last year’s first Masters win — that his game is better in his mid-30s than it was then. That comment was once raised some eyebrows but over the past two years he has proved his case.

He can put yet another very fitting stamp on it with a victory this week where his major rebirth was sparked.

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