Will he talk today? Will he not? — was energy wasted Sunday. McIlroy didn’t boycott the press as he’d done after six of his last seven rounds at major championships, the most prominent battle in the surreal press-vs.

Rory McIlroy's U.S. Open week was strange and at times standoffish. On Sunday, though, things looked different.

Rory McIlroy ended a challenging week at the US Open on a positive note as he recorded his best score of the tournament. The Northern Irish golfer had toiled in the opening rounds at Oakmont Country Club before he shot a 3-under 67 in the final round.

Rory McIlroy’s stay in the U.S. Open field nearly lasted just two days. But a birdie on the 18th hole salvaged his second round (2-over) to get him through two days at 6-under and in a tie for 45th at Oakmont Country Club, barely sneaking past the cutline nine years after he missed the cut the last time the major was held at the course.

Rory McIlroy won The Masters and has been performing poorly in the majors since, especially at the US Open. He knows that has to change.

Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy had a disappointing first round at the US Open and got off to an even worse start in the second.

OAKMONT, Pa. — It seems like a lifetime ago that Rory McIlroy knelt on all fours at the 18th green at Augusta National sobbing uncontrollably after reaching his ultimate goal of winning the Masters and completing the career Grand Slam.