Although he started the season with a strong performance, his play in the last few tournaments hasn’t inspired much optimism.

Rory McIlroy has been struggling in recent tournaments. Before arriving at Oakmont, he competed in the RBC Canadian Open, where he carded rounds of 71 and 78 to miss the cut. It was one of his worst 36-hole performances in recent years.

And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.” Rory McIlroy indeed wept in April after he won the Masters, after he harpooned his own white whale,