Rory McIlroy has perfect tonic awaiting him when he returns from golf hiatus

Following a heart-wrenching final round at the US Open, Rory McIlroy plans to take a short break from golf but is set to return for tournaments where he has historically excelled. After a challenging finale at Pinehurst, the Northern Irish golfer failed to secure what would have been his first major title in ten years.

His missed opportunities on the greens during Sunday's play, including two short putts, effectively handed Bryson DeChambeau the trophy. McIlroy quickly exited post-final round proceedings.

However, on social media, he reflected on the experience, writing about "probably the toughest day" in his 17 years as a pro, reports the Irish Mirror. "As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have," McIlroy posted on 'X'.

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"The one word that I would describe my career as is resilient. I've shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again. I'm going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defence of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland."

The upcoming tournaments present an ideal opportunity for McIlroy to recover from the shock of his recent defeat. Last year, he clinched victory at the Genesis Scottish Open after four days of intense competition, delivering a stunning birdie-birdie finish to secure his second consecutive Rolex Series title and pocket a £1.25million prize.

The tournament kicks off on July 11 and wraps up on the 14th, providing him with the perfect warm-up for The Open Championship just four days later. McIlroy last won this major title in July 2014, when he lifted the Claret Jug after triumphing by two shots at Hoylake.

He then went on to win the US PGA Championship a month later - his most recent major - but has since endured a frustrating run of four second-place finishes. Returning to venues where he has previously played some of his best golf - and which hold some of his fondest memories - will give McIlroy a much-needed boost at a critical time.

The Northern Irishman is the first player to secure a top 10 finish at six consecutive US Opens since Jack Nicklaus achieved the feat from 1977-1982. Moreover, he is the first to do so without winning any of them since Jack Hobens between 1905-1910.

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