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• Dealing with 'unfair expectations' just 'part of the gig' for McIlroy

  Rory McIlroy knows dealing with "unfair expectations" comes with the territory as one of golf's star names.

  The four-time major winner was close to ending his long wait for a fifth such title at the U.S. Open earlier this year, but suffered a heartbreaking near-miss.

  Bryson DeChambeau capitalised on McIlroy's wobble, and the Northern Irishman has now not won a major for a decade, with his last triumph arriving at the 2014 PGA Championship. 

  McIlroy had previously won the 2011 U.S. Open, the PGA Championship in 2023 and The Open two years later. 

  "I'm hard on myself, but at the same time, I try very hard to focus on the positives and move forward," McIlroy told Sky Sports.

  "I learn from my mistakes and then move on, because that's all you can do in any walk of life.

  "I think what the hard thing is in my position is your disappointments and your mistakes keep getting brought up to you every time that you get in front of a camera or you're in a press conference or answering questions. That's the tough part of this gig.

  "At the same time, I am in a very fortunate position that this is what I get to do for a living. If I have to deal with what people deem are unfair expectations or are held to a higher standard than others, then so be it.

  "I'd much rather have it this way than if people didn't really care about what I was doing on the golf course."

  The 35-year-old has been nominated for the 2024 PGA Tour Player of the Year award and won his sixth Race to Dubai last month.

  But McIlroy knows his slip-up at the U.S. Open is what will stand out from his campaign. 

  He had a comfortable lead at eight-under, but three bogeys allowed DeChambeau to win by a single shot. McIlroy took time away from the sport in the wake of the tournament.

  "It's hard because, on one hand, I sit here, and I'm proud of what I've done this year, but then, on the other hand, I sit here, and I am disappointed because of the ones I've let get away," McIlroy said. 

  "I'd say it was a combination of everything. I wouldn't say it's specifically the putts. I wouldn't say it's specifically the club choices - I think it's a combination.

  "The putt on 16 was probably the one that I'll look back on most that I'll regret. But I think if I had made par on 15, do I miss that putt on 16? Also, with the last few holes and with the way Pinehurst flows, I was waiting for Bryson to hit his shots.

  "You're very aware of what's happening behind you and I needed to do a better job of trying to block that out and I didn't. It's hard enough just having to concentrate on yourself and focus on what you're doing.

  "Whenever your attention is taken away by focusing and looking at what your competitor does, it makes it even more difficult," he added. 

• Rory McIlroy looks ahead to 2025 and 'unfinished business' with Portrush

  Rory McIlroy is already looking ahead to 2025 and the "unfinished business" he has at Royal Portrush.

  The past year has been up and down for the four-time major winner, who won the DP World Tour's Dubai Desert Classic, DP World Championship, Zurich Classic and Wells Fargo Championship and recorded seven top-10 finishes.

  But he suffered heartbreak at the U.S. Open where he led by two with four to play before bogeying three of the final four holes at Pinehurst No.2, as Bryson DeChambeau claimed a second major title.

  McIlroy has not won a major for over 10 years and in July will return to his home course at Portrush for the 153rd Open, where he missed the cut back in 2019.

  The 35-year-old, speaking to Sky Sports, addressed what is to come next year, including the return to Portrush.

  "I love that we're playing the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in May, which is typically when we played the Wells Fargo," McIlroy said. 

  "It's when I know the golf course the best and I know that it's going to play, you know, the characteristics.

  "I can't wait to go back to Portrush, because I feel like I've got some unfinished business there from last time, and we'll obviously go back to Augusta for The Masters.

  "I think the one thing that probably won't get enough credit, because I've not won the US Open, is that I feel like I've become such a such a better player at US Open venues.

  "So 2016, when we last played at Oakmont, where the US Open is, I missed the cut. I missed the cut in 2017 at the US Open and I missed the cut of 2018 in the US Open, but since then I've made a real effort to try to change what I did and how I approached playing that championship.

  "From 2019 all the way through to this year in 2024, I feel like I've had a chance to win the US Open every Sunday that I've played there since, so I'm really proud of that. I'm looking forward to going back to a golf course that I struggled at before to see if I can figure it out."

• Woods still not 'tournament-sharp' as recovery from back surgery continues

  Tiger Woods says he is not yet "tournament-sharp" as the 15-time major winner continues his recovery from back surgery.

  The 48-year-old underwent his sixth back operation in mid-September, after issues caused pain in his leg that became gradually worse.

  Woods has played just five PGA Tour events this calendar year, missing three cuts while withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational through illness.

  The former world number one provided an update on his condition at this week's Hero World Challenge, an unofficial event in the Bahamas that he hosts.

  "I'm not tournament-sharp yet," Woods told reporters during a news conference. "No, I'm still not there.

  "These are 20 of the best players in the world, and I'm not sharp enough to compete against them at this level. When I'm ready to compete and play at this level, then I will. The fire still burns to compete.

  "As far as the recovery process of going out there and doing it again and again and again - and doing it consistently at a high level - for some reason, the body just won't recover like it used to. That's part of age and part of an athlete's journey.

  "I'm just trying to rehab and still get stronger and better and feel better, and really give myself the best chance I can going into next year."

  Woods also believes players receive financial rewards when appearing at the Ryder Cup, but with all money donated to charity.

  "The Ryder Cup itself makes so much money, so why can't we allocate it to various charities?" he added.

  "And what's wrong with each player - 12 players - getting a million dollars and the ability to divvy out to amazing charities that they're involved in that they can help out?

  "It's never really been about getting paid, it's how can we allocate funds to help our sport or help things that we believe in back home. It's so hard to get onto that team; there are only 12 guys. What's wrong with being able to allocate more funds?"