McIlroy Describes Being "Stuck in Neutral" at The Open and Outlines Plans for the Remainder of the Season

Rory McIlroy has turned his attention toward ending both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour campaigns on a high note after a lackluster performance at the 154th Open Championship left him feeling "stuck in neutral" for much of the week. The Northern Irish star entered Royal Birkdale as one of the pre‑tournament favorites, hoping to capture his second major of the calendar year and his first Open title since 2014. After successfully defending his Masters crown in April, expectations were sky‑high, yet McIlroy never truly got into contention over the four‑day event.

The opening round saw McIlroy card a 72, putting him well behind the leaders. He responded with a solid 67 on Friday and a 69 on Saturday, which vaulted him into a position eight shots off the lead held by Sam Burns heading into the final day.

However, a one‑over 71 on Sunday saw him tumble further down the leaderboard, ultimately finishing far from the top spots. "I was sort of stuck in neutral for most of the week," McIlroy confessed in the post‑round interview.

"I did manage a good round on Friday that got me into the weekend mix, but even shooting par over the last two days wasn’t enough to change the story. Whenever I started to build a little momentum, I seemed to hit a bogey.

It was one of those weeks where nothing clicked." Since becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to win back‑to‑back majors at Augusta, McIlroy’s results have been a mixed bag. In his six worldwide starts following that historic feat, his best finish has been a tie for seventh place – a result he achieved at the PGA Championship.

He also missed the cut at the U.S. Open, underscoring the inconsistency that has plagued his season so far. Looking ahead, McIlroy will shift his focus to the FedExCup Playoffs before turning his attention back to the DP World Tour. He has back‑to‑back engagements slated for September: the Amgen Irish Open followed immediately by the BMW PGA Championship.

Both events offer valuable points toward the Race to Dubai, and McIlroy hopes to finish the season strongly in both circuits. When asked about the overall feel of the season, McIlroy drew parallels to the previous year.

"The season feels very similar to last season," he said. "I won the first major of the year and then kind of slipped after that. Winning a major is always something to be proud of, but I haven’t really taken the time to celebrate it properly.

My daughter Poppy has four more weeks off school, so I’m looking forward to enjoying the summer with her and Erica. After that, I’ll get back to competing.

I’m still in a decent position in both the FedExCup race and the Race to Dubai. As long as I’m in the top‑30 heading into the Tour Championship, I have a realistic shot at the FedExCup, and I’m also in a solid spot for the Dubai title. I’ll keep playing hard until the end of the season and aim to capture at least one of those crowns." One lingering concern for McIlroy is his PGA Tour event count. He has entered only 11 tournaments this season, falling short of the 15‑event minimum required for the 2026 season.

The 37‑year‑old admitted uncertainty about any potential penalties, noting that his priorities have shifted over the years. "There have been seasons where I focused more on the PGA Tour and others where I didn’t," he explained. "Right now the PGA Tour is in a period of flux with schedule changes and structural adjustments. What matters to me is being in the top‑30 before the Tour Championship, because that gives me a chance at the FedExCup.

If I’m already there, the number of events I’ve played becomes less relevant. I made that decision last year and I’m sticking with it." The next PGA Tour stop for McIlroy is the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, which kicks off on Thursday. Early coverage will be available on Sky Sports+, with the main broadcast shifting to Sky Sports Golf later in the evening. The 3M Open is part of a triple‑header of live golf on Sky Sports, alongside the ISPS Handa Senior Open and the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.

Following the men's schedule, the women’s major season will wrap up with the AIG Women’s Open from July 30 to August 2, also streamed on Sky Sports Golf. McIlroy hopes to use the upcoming events as a platform to regain form, finish the season strongly, and perhaps add another major or tour title to his impressive résumé.