It has been a while since Rory McIlroy left a major championship feeling upbeat.

The seven-year drought continued at the 121st US Open on Sunday, but it was not an inquest dominating his thoughts for once, rather improvement.

Before the event, his coach Pete Cowen had hailed his progress on the range, believing all that he needed was to regain trust in his long game under the gun.

McIlroy certainly made strides forward in that regard.

After missing the cut in miserable fashion at the Masters and butchering the par fives at the US PGA, McIlroy was just one shot off the lead as he headed to the difficult par-three 11th at Torrey Pines, where an untimely three putt killed his momentum.

He then got an awful break at the 12th, where his approach plugged on the downslope in a bunker and he ran up a fatal double bogey.

Given that it was the first time in three years, since the Open at Carnoustie in 2018, that he felt bang in contention in a major, it wasn't surprising he was keen to talk up the positives after finishing tied seventh.

'It was really encouraging and, but for two bad holes, a really good week,' said the 32-year-old.

'I felt really comfortable out there in what I was doing, until the 11th and 12th when I was chasing it a little bit after that and couldn't get things done from there.

'Working on my swing changes the last two months, it's sometimes felt further away than it actually is, but when you think where I was walking away from Augusta on the Friday night in April, I'm feeling a lot more comfortable now.'

Next up for McIlroy is the Irish Open next week, followed by his 50th major — the Open at Royal St George's next month.

Alongside the winner Jon Rahm and McIlroy's momentum, Italian Guido Migliozzi completed the best major for European golf for more than four years by finishing tied fourth to complete a stunning Grand Slam debut.

He gained his spot in the field after losing the play-off to Richard Bland at the British Masters last month.

Playing alongside the Englishman in the final round on Sunday, his 68 earned the gifted 24-year-old from Venice a Masters debut next year.