Q. Bogey-free over the last 27 holes, but the driving accuracy was a little off. What do you feel good about as the week went on, and what do you need to improve this week?
RORY McILROY: I sort of struggled with this in Houston as well, whenever we get these big, wide, open golf courses where there's not a ton of definition. I think I would have hit more fairways if it had been tree lined.
I felt like I drove it a little better on the back nine today, which was good. Hard thing this week as well is the wind on the range has been left-to-right all week, and then you get out there, and the first hole you play right-to-left, 4, it's like just trying to adjust again.
Overall I felt like I got a little better as the week went on. Played good. As you said, like bogey-free. I wish I'd made a few more birdies. I've got a better gauge of where my game is standing here right now than I did at the start of the week. It was a good week for that.
I wish I had gotten myself into contention a little bit more, but it was a good week, especially looking ahead to next week.
Q. So, Rory, can you talk about what this whole experience has been like having this event here in Philadelphia, and how were the fans this week?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, they've been great. As you can hear, it's a great atmosphere to play in. They've been enthusiastic and excited all week.
It's great, actually, we're going to come back here regularly for the next few years. Aronimink next year, Merion in 2030. It will be great to be here in this part of the world.
Q. Do you want more PGA TOUR events to come to Northeast cities?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, I think so. It's just trying to figure out the dates and the best times to play. It's hard.
We traditionally play in the -- I wish we would because there's some great golf courses, but again, it's not just that. The course has to be willing to give up their club for a few weeks, and that's quite disruptive. It's a bit harder than just saying, yeah, we should come up here more often. You need to find the golf clubs that are willing to do it.
Q. Shane says he's recommitted himself since the last Ryder Cup. As his friend, how have you seen that, and how has it paid off since last year?
RORY McILROY: I've seen a big difference in Shane since he started living here full-time. We practice and play together so much at home. Just the back and forth from Ireland is tough. Even this time of the year, it's still hard to practice over there.
I just feel like I've seen such a big improvement in his consistency week to week because of where he lives, being able to practice in great conditions on great golf courses, get in games with the likes of myself or Rickie or JT or whoever lives down in Jupiter.
It's been amazing as his friend to see him play so well and so consistently. I'm going to hang around here and hopefully see him get the job done.
Q. Just was wondering your opinion of playing a Signature Event the week before or after a major.
RORY McILROY: Before, I'm all for. After, I wouldn't -- I'm not a huge fan of it, but there's only so many weeks in the year.
I really like playing the week before if it makes sense. I think, again, this week was a great indication of where my game is and what I need to think about and what I need to work on going into next week. But the weeks after majors are tough.
Q. In a similar vein, what momentum do you think that you can take, carry forward to next week?
RORY McILROY: I think I'm in a good place. I didn't feel like I played all that well this week, I still finished seventh. Even my -- what I feel is my bad golf, I'm still there or thereabouts.
A couple little improvements and little tweaks, especially going to a place I love like Quail Hollow, and I feel like I'm in a really good spot.
Q. You hear this behind of scenes call of Rory, and you've heard it all week. What has this fan experience been like for you, and how are Philadelphia fans compared to some other courses where you play?
RORY McILROY: I said this before, they're very enthusiastic. They're loud. They're relentless in terms of like I must have heard my name a million times this week.
Look, it's been amazing. There's so many kids out here as well, which is wonderful. As I was saying, I'm looking forward to coming up and playing here a little more often in the next few years. Aronimink next year, and then Merion for the Open in '30.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports