UNIVERSITY PLACE, Washington — Rory McIlroy sent a wave of excitement rolling across Puget Sound when he mounted a final-round charge at the U.S. Open on Sunday, but his rally ran out of steam at the finish.
Playing with the control, command and confidence expected of the world's top ranked player, McIlroy hit back at the links-style layout that had humbled him with a four-under 66 during a round that had flirted with a majors record-equalling 63.
Sitting on four-over and eight strokes off the lead when the day began, McIlroy surged up the leaderboard with six birdies and within two shots of the lead before two bogeys over his final four holes brought a shuddering end the drama.