Jordan Smith has lauded the crowd on Sunday at The Open Championship after playing Rory McIlroy for the final round at Royal Birkdale.
Unfortunately, McIlroy’s hopes of winning a second Claret Jug were all but dashed after a frustrating 69 on Saturday left him eight shots adrift of Sam Burns with 18 holes to play.
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McIlroy threatened to give himself an outside chance with two birdies on his first six holes on Sunday. However, he was never able to find that next gear and ended up posting a 71 to finish in a tie for 40th.
It was only the second time in his last five starts at The Open Championship that the 37-year-old has missed out on the top 10.
Jordan Smith reacts to playing alongside Rory McIlroy on Sunday at The Open Championship
Despite an underwhelming week for McIlroy, the crowds were full of support for the six-time major champion.
It was Englishman Jordan Smith who played alongside McIlroy on Sunday in Southport. And he suggested that it was a brilliant experience to tee it up with the 2014 Champion Golfer of the Year.
Photo by Stuart Kerr/R&A/R&A via Getty Images
“I’m very happy. Very happy with the way I finished there. Again, not easy. Not easy,” he said.
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“Yeah, it was a lot of fun out there playing in front of that sort of crowd, playing with Rory. Yeah, so very special, and I enjoyed it.
“He’s always going to be a favourite. It was nice to hear my name shouted a couple of times. A lot of “Rorys.” No, it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it. Golf was a bit of a shaky start but just down to bad swings, nothing else. No, happy with how it finished.”
What Rory McIlroy did for the first time since 2021 during this year’s major championship season
McIlroy will have mixed feelings about his major championship season.
He obviously got off to an amazing start by winning The Masters for a second time, back in April. It did appear that his decision to play a limited PGA Tour schedule was going to pay off.
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However, McIlroy was unable to seriously contend on Sunday at any of the other three majors.
In fact, his 2026 season marks the first time since 2021 that McIlroy has finished outside the top 20 at two majors in the same year.
That will leave him with plenty to consider ahead of the 2027 season, particularly with big changes coming to the PGA Tour in the coming years.
McIlroy does not appear to have the appetite to play a full schedule at this stage of his career. But perhaps he may reconsider that stance if he finds contending at the four biggest events of the year much more difficult.
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