Rory McIlroy's missed opportunities with the putter cost him a one-stroke loss to Wyndham Clark in the U.S. Open.
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McIlroy's dry spell in major championships now extends to 33 tournaments over a span of nine years.
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Despite hitting the ball well from tee to green, McIlroy struggled on the greens, taking 36 putts and failing to sink a putt beyond 8 feet.
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A defining moment came on the 14th hole when McIlroy's approach shot missed the mark, leading to a costly bogey.
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McIlroy found his ball embedded in the deep grass near a bunker and dropped 40 feet away, resulting in a bogey.
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He couldn't convert birdie attempts on the final four holes, leaving him one shot behind Clark.
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McIlroy's strong ball-striking, hitting 59 greens for the tournament, didn't translate into victory, marking his third second-place finish in a major since 2014.
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Despite the disappointment, McIlroy remains determined to win another major
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championship and is willing to endure similar near misses in the pursuit of that goal.