Rory ready for Major defence

Rory McIlroy may have fluffed his lines at the St Jude Classic, but he insists his US Open defence is back on track following a nightmare last month.

McIlroy was joint leader with one hole to play in Memphis on Sunday but double-bogeyed the 18th with a hooked drive into the lake and a missed four-foot putt to finish in a share of seventh as Dustin Johnson claimed a one-shot lead.

But having failed to make the cut on his previous three starts, the world No.2 will tee it up in San Francisco this week confident he has the game to contend.

“I saw a lot of positive signs this week,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting to San Francisco and I can take a lot into next week. I said in the early part of the week, if I got into contention that was great. I did that. I feel like I’m well prepared going into the US Open.”

IT TOOK just one glimpse at the Olympic Club course for Graeme McDowell to instantly rate his chances at this week’s second Major of the year.

The 2010 US Open champion believes the San Francisco course is similar to Pebble Beach, where he stunned the field to claim his solitary Major.

He said: “I like the way it sets up for me so far, and the greens are maybe the best I’ve seen in a very long time, they roll perfectly. It’s going to be a great test: it’s the US Open, and we expect it to be tough.

“I’m feeling good. California’s been a good state for me: in 2010 I won twice in the state, most notably at Pebble Beach, and we’re just up the road from Pebble. The airfield’s the same, and we’ve got that ocean breeze.”