Rory McIlroy blamed “the wheels coming off” twice on the back nine for his disappointing showing at the US Open.

A final-round 73, in which he under-performed on the front nine with four bogeys, saw the Northern Irishman finish six over par and not even close to the top 10.

But the world number two knew he threw away his chance of a second US Open title on Friday and Saturday.

In the second round he was within touching distance of leader Wyndham Clark after an outward nine of 33, but three successive bogeys after the turn saw him come home in 38.

placeholder image — Rory McIlroy says "the wheels came off" twice as his US Open bid ended in disappointment

Saturday was worse as an outward 33 had kept him within four of the top, but five bogeys coming home, including at the 10th and 12th again, sent him spiralling out of contention.

“Looking back in the entire week, I rue the back nine yesterday. I was two under par for the tournament after nine and then the wheels came off,” said the Masters champion.

“I played a really bad back nine and I shot myself out of the tournament then. Obviously it was really disappointing coming away from the course last night.

“Friday too, I was three over for the back nine. I’ll rue both of those nines Friday and Saturday, but especially yesterday as I got myself right back in the tournament with the way I played the front nine and then just let it go.

“You try to come out and put a good one out there and I felt I maybe had a tiny chance, but I got off to a bad start.

“I guess it was a week of what could have been, which is pretty frustrating, but I’ll dust myself off and go again.”

McIlroy’s hopes of salvaging something in the fourth round evaporated over the space of his first five holes after three bogeys.

Ironically, after his troubles on the previous two days, he birdied 10 and 11, which were playing easier with the wind direction, but two bogeys and one further birdie saw him sign for a 73.