Sergio Garcia misses Open again as South African MJ Daffue seals Birkdale berth
Spain's Sergio Garcia has failed to qualify for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, marking the third time in four years he has missed golf's oldest major.
Emotional Rory McIlroy grateful for Portrush support despite missing out on Claret Jug
The World Number Two teed off in the penultimate group on Sunday at Royal Portrush, just an hour from his hometown of Holywood.
But it was Scottie Scheffler who underlined his status as the world's top-ranked player, cruising to a four-shot victory and his first Open title.
McIlroy's faint hopes of mounting a challenge faded with a double bogey at the 10th, as he carded a closing 69 to finish in a tie for seventh at ten under par.
Still, the Masters champion was able to enjoy what he described as an "awesome week" in front of his home fans.
"I tried as best as I could to keep my emotions in check, especially walking up the last there and that reception," McIlroy said.
"It's been an awesome week. I've gotten everything I wanted out of this week apart from a Claret Jug and that's just because one person was just a little bit better than the rest of us.
"I feel so thankful and just so lucky that I get to do this, I get to do this in front of this crowd.
"Hopefully I'll have one or two Opens left here, if the R&A decide to keep coming back, probably one while I'm still competitive and another one while I'm more grey than I already am.
"It's just been incredible to come back here and to play and at least feel like I had a chance today going out there. Just an awesome week.
"Honestly, I think Portrush has quickly turned into one of the best two or three venues that The Open goes to.
"I'm not sure Portrush is going to have The Open every six years, that would be nice, but I would obviously love it to keep coming back."
Looking ahead, McIlroy remains optimistic about the rest of his season, with one major team goal firmly in sight.
"I feel like I'm getting back to where I want to be and we've still got a lot of golf left this year, with obviously Ryder Cup being the big one in there in September," he added.
"I don't want to play too much leading up to that because I want to be fresh. So I'm looking forward to a few weeks off here.
"I'll reflect on what's already been a good year and start to get myself ready for that run up to the Ryder Cup."
Wyndham Clark overcomes hostile crowd and late pressure to seal dramatic US Open victory
Wyndham Clark held off World No 1 Scottie Scheffler and a late charge from Sam Burns to complete a wire-to-wire US Open victory at Shinnecock Hills, winning by a single stroke.
Wyndham Clark opens four-shot US Open lead as McIlroy and Scheffler fall seven back
Wyndham Clark will take a formidable four-shot lead into the weekend at the US Open, with the world's top two players Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler both trailing the leader by seven strokes.
Wyndham Clark storms four clear at US Open as McIlroy battles and Scheffler trails
Wyndham Clark surged four shots clear at the US Open after Thursday's rain-affected opening round, while Rory McIlroy began steadily and Scottie Scheffler has some work to do.