Rory McIlroy calls major-less 2015 a “lost year”

Rory McIlroy may want the FedEx Cup on his resume, but the world No. 2 made it clear that capturing the season-long points race wouldn’t make up for being shut out in the majors.

“I think it’s a lost year already, just because I didn’t win a major,” said McIlroy, who shot 1-over 71 on Friday at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. “I judge myself on the biggest tournaments and the biggest tournaments we have are the four majors, and I played OK in them but I didn’t win.”

The four-time major winner only competed in three of the 2015 majors, missing the British Open in July after suffering an ankle injury while playing soccer with friends on July 4. He finished fourth at the Masters, six back of Jordan Spieth. He was tied for ninth at the U.S. Open, fueled in part by a Sunday flurry to make an early final-round challenge at Chambers Bay. McIlroy made his competitive comeback at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, finishing in 17th place.

After winning two majors in 2014, a lot was expected of McIlroy this year — a major, at a minimum, added to the trophy case. However, all was not, well, lost. The Ulsterman did win the WGC-Cadillac Match Play and Wells Fargo Championship in May.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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