Rory McIlroy confessed that it took him a couple of days to get over the disappointment of last week’s Open at St Andrews.

The Ulsterman finished tied for third to equal his best ever finish in a major but could not help but wonder what might have been after following his first round 63 with a hellish 80 that wrecked his title bid.

McIlroy said: “I was still thinking about it a bit on Sunday night, and on Monday, but it’s fine. When you look at it, I have had two top-three finishes in majors in the last 12 months so it is not too bad.

“I am taking the positives from it. Looking back at the end of the year I will want that Friday back but you couldn’t do anything about it. It was just one of those things.

“I am sure I will have a few more majors and tournaments where I will get the good end of the draw and we will be talking about something completely different.”

As for the Ryder Cup, McIlroy was delighted to see Darren Clarke appointed as one of Colin Montgomerie’s vice-captains for October’s clash with the US.

“I think it will be great for myself especially because he knows what it is about and what you have got to do,” he said after shooting a six under 66 with Clarke to clinch a one-stroke win over Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry in the second edition of the Lough Erne Challenge, dubbed North v South.

“It’s nice to have someone who you are quite close with bring a lot to the team room and the golf course. I can obviously go to Monty but I have known Darren a lot longer and I will feel comfortable with him there.”