Rory McIlroy makes defiant statement ahead of US Open - 'Get my stuff together!'

The 36-year-old's career-defining victory at Augusta National saw him become only the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam.

However, his form has deserted him since, with a disappointing tied-47th finish at last month's US PGA Championship followed by a missed cut at the Canadian Open.

McIlroy, who claimed his sole US Open title in 2011, admits he needs to "get my stuff together" as he attempts to capture a second championship at the demanding Pennsylvania venue.

The five-time major champion has been candid about his struggle to maintain focus following his Augusta success.

"I think it's trying to have a little bit of amnesia and forget about what happened six weeks ago [at the Masters], then just trying to find the motivation to go back out there and work as hard as I've been working," McIlroy said.

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He revealed this pattern has been consistent throughout his career. "I always struggle to show up with motivation the next week because you've just accomplished something and you want to enjoy it, and you want to sort of relish the fact that you've achieved a goal," he explained.

McIlroy emphasised he had "worked incredibly hard" on his game from October through to his Masters victory in April.

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The Northern Irishman revealed his relationship with the US Open has transformed dramatically in recent years. "I made the decision at that back end of 2018 into 2019, I wanted to try to build my game around the toughest tests that we have in the game," he said.

This strategic shift has yielded impressive results, with McIlroy recording six straight top-10 finishes at the championship and finishing runner-up in the past two years.

"The US Open went from probably my least favourite major to probably my favourite because of what it asks from you, and I love that challenge," McIlroy added.

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He has also made equipment adjustments, reverting to his previous driver after experiencing difficulties off the tee in Canada.

McIlroy's relationship with Oakmont has been fraught with difficulty, having missed the cut when the course last hosted the US Open in 2016. His struggles at the venue continued with missed cuts in 2017 and 2018.

A recent practice round offered a brutal reminder of Oakmont's severity. "Last Monday felt impossible - I birdied the last two holes for 81," McIlroy revealed, describing conditions with five-inch rough and lightning-fast greens running at 15.5 on the stimpmeter.

However, the world number three has found conditions more manageable this week. "It's much more benign now," he said, noting the course feels "softer" than during his challenging practice session.