Rory McIlroy puts poor PGA Tour season behind him with much-needed New York distraction

Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish golf star, has been spotted at the men's US Open semifinal between Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe on Friday evening, indicating a shift in focus from golf to tennis .

Despite his victories at the Zurich Classic and Wells Fargo Championship, McIlroy's PGA Tour campaign didn't quite meet his usual high standards , ending with a ninth-place tie in the FedEx Cup standings - a title he has won more times than any other player in PGA Tour history.

With the 2024 PGA Tour season wrapping up with last week's Tour Championship, the Northern Irishman has decided to remain in the US before heading back to Europe and then onto the Middle East for the final stages of the DP World Tour campaign.

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Taking a break from golf, the 35-year-old was seen among the crowd at the All-American semi-final, where Fritz defeated his compatriot 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Despite not making a significant impact at the season finale in East Lake, there were several highlights throughout the year.

In addition to his two wins, the Northern Irishman came tantalizingly close to securing his fifth major title and first since winning the PGA Championship at Valhalla in 2014. His chance came at the US Open at Pinehurst No. 2, where he was leading by two shots with just five holes left.

Rory McIlroy's hopes took a nosedive in the final stages as he notched up three bogeys in his last four holes, allowing Bryson DeChambeau to snatch victory by a mere stroke. It was a tough blow for McIlroy, who faltered with critical short putts that cost him the lead.

After the stinging defeat, the four-time major winner made a swift exit from Pinehurst, and the next day, he announced he would be taking a three-week hiatus from golf. Reflecting on the ordeal months later at the Tour Championship, McIlroy acknowledged that the US Open letdown contributed to a lacklustre finish to his season.

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"It's been a long season," McIlroy said last Sunday. "And I'm going to just have to think about trying to build in a few extra breaks here and there next year and going forward because I felt like I hit a bit of a wall sort of post-US Open, and still feel a little bit of that hangover."

Looking ahead, McIlroy is eyeing another Race to Dubai title on the DP World Tour. He revealed his intention to compete in five more events this winter, including the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship where he will team up with his father Gerry in the Pro-Am.

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