JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Rory McIlroy is headed for a tennis vacation.
The U.S. Open winner finished up his PGA Championship on Sunday with a second straight 74, sending him to 11-over-par and tied for 64th. He said his injured right wrist felt better and he was simply glad for a few days off.
McIlroy’s not heading home to Northern Ireland, though. He’s off to Cincinnati.
“I hear it’s nice up there this time of year,” he said with a grin.
Cincinnati is also site of a WTA tournament featuring McIlroy’s friend, world No. 1 Caroline Woz- niacki. The two have been the subject of gossip since they were photographed together a month ago.
McIlroy, though, quickly turned the conversation back to his PGA performance.
It was certainly a struggle, he said, since injuring his right wrist on an ill-considered shot, the ball up against a tree root.
“I basically played 70 holes of this tournament not at 100 percent, so it’s always going to be tough,” he said.
Rickie’s reflections.
Rickie Fowler played in all four majors for the first time in his young professional career. And despite only seriously contending in the British Open this season, he believes he’s learned a few things that will move him up the leaderboard in 2012.
Fowler closed the PGA Championship with a 68, leaving him tied for 51st at 6-over. He was 38th at the Masters and missed the cut at the U.S. Open before his fifth-place finish at Royal St. George’s last month.
“Definitely learned a bit,” Fowler said. “Played good in a couple of Open championships overseas and look forward to getting into some more of those and getting some better finishes than the other majors.”
Phil’s week.
Phil Mickelson never got the stellar round he expected to after shooting a 70 to finish at even par.
“I felt like I was one good round away, 4- or 5-under-par the first three days of getting in it, but just wasn’t able to do it,” he said. “I just really struggled making birdies here.”
Mickelson thought he might have a Sunday run after reaching 2-under heading to the back nine. But then came a bogey at 10 and a par on the 551-yard 12th hole to take away the momentum.
Mickelson ended his major season with a top-20 performance.
The Associated Press
