Rory McIlroy would 'love to step away' from golf for a brief period so he can finally digest his sensational Masters triumph back in April.
That's according to former golf star Nick Dougherty, who has backed the 36-year-old to bounce back from some poor performances at the US Open later this week.
McIlroy had gone into April's Masters hoping to finally claim a first major since 2014, while also bidding to complete the career Grand Slam.
And the Northern Irishman did exactly that, with the veteran able to fend off competition from Justin Rose to reign supreme at Augusta.
Rory McIlroy would 'love to step away' from golf for a brief period so he can finally digest his sensational Masters triumph back in April
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McIlroy has, however, toiled in the time since.
He could only manage T47th at the PGA Championship last month, while the golfer was unable to make the cut at the Canadian Open over the weekend.
Dougherty believes McIlroy would like a brief break from golf so he could digest that triumph.
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However, the 43-year-old also thinks the Briton is more than capable of bouncing back and going all the way at Oakmont Country Club.
"Oakmont isn't a course you want to be going to with your game not in order and he's saying that himself," he told Sky Sports.
“I think he would love to be able to step away if he could and enjoy this for a while...he's one of six in the history of men's golf (to complete the grand slam).
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Rory McIlroy's form has dipped ever since his remarkable Masters win back in April
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"He wants to enjoy it, but at the same time he wants to compete and be at his best.
"Going to the range and grinding now is tougher because the motivation has understandably shifted.
"He will solve that - we're not going to hear Rory retiring next year - and he will want to get more majors, but he has to set himself a new goal and I don't think he knows what that is yet.
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"The challenge at Oakmont will get his attention and players love to say they've won there because it's thought of as the hardest in terms of physicality and mentality.
"He has been honest about putting himself in the position of finding what gets him out of bed, setting new goals, reassessing what the future holds and he will get there."
McIlroy previously won the US Open back in 2011.
Rory McIlroy previously won the US Open back in 2011
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That was his first major and, by the time he was 25, he'd won three more.
McIlroy will have to be at his best to replicate that achievement, however, with several A-listers set to take part.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau will be tough to beat, while Scottie Scheffler also has a target on his back following last month's triumph at the PGA Championship.
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