Yahoo Sports McIlroy will 'learn a lot' from US Open collapse
Rory McIlroy says he will "learn a lot" from his late collapse at the US Open but insists he would not change too much were he to find himself in the position to end his long wait for a fifth major title.
McIlroy led last month's US Open at Pinehurst by two with five holes to play but bogeys on three of his last four holes allowed Bryson DeChambeau to snatch a dramatic victory.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since the US Open, the Northern Irishman said it "was a great day - until it wasn't".
"I did things on that Sunday that I hadn't been able to do in the last couple of years," McIlroy said at the Scottish Open.
"Took control of the golf tournament. Held putts when I needed to. Well, mostly when I needed to. Made birdies. You know, really got myself in there."
McIlroy, who last won a major in 2014, added: "It was a tough day. It was a tough few days after that, obviously.
"But I think as you get further away from it happening, you start to see the positives and you start to see all the good things that you did throughout the week."
McIlroy 'too aware' of DeChambeau
Having overhauled a three-shot deficit to DeChambeau to lead by two, McIlroy dropped shots on the 15th, 16th and 18th holes, missing short putts on the latter two holes to finish runner-up at the US Open for the second year in a row.
Playing in the group in front of DeChambeau, McIlroy admitted to feeling uncomfortable during the latter stages of his round because he was "too aware" of what the American was doing behind him.
"Just the way the course flowed, it just made me very aware of what he was doing at the same time. So it sort of got me out of my own little world a little bit," the 35-year-old said.
"But when I look back on that day, just like I look back on some of my toughest moments in my career, I'll learn a lot from it and I'll hopefully put that to good use.
"It's something that's been a bit of a theme throughout my career. I've been able to take those tough moments and turn them into great things."
