• Missing out on fifth major in June still grates
• Race to Dubai title would cap ‘successful’ season

Rory McIlroy admits his failure to win the US Open still “stings” after missing out on an overdue fifth major in June and remains a painful memory. The Northern Irishman looked set at Pinehurst to win his first major since 2014, but bogeyed three of the last four holes to finish a shot behind Bryson DeChambeau.

“Incredibly consistent again,” McIlroy said when asked to assess his season. “I think I’ve been really proud of that over the last few years. But then at the same time, thinking about the ones that got away, I could be sitting up here with a fifth major title and I am not.