Rory McIlroy says he is in great shape ahead of the US Open which tees off on Thursday.

The former world number one has suffered with niggling injuries that have led to a drop in form and a slight tumble down the rankings as he is now placed in sixth.

McIlroy’s 2017 campaign was plagued by a rib problem but he has shown some signs of getting back to the top of his game, with a strong showing at Augusta in the Masters only dampened by a disappointing last round which allowed American Patrick Reed to go on and win the tournament.

However, coming into the US Open, where he won his first major title back in 2011, McIlroy says he is extremely confident ahead of the tournament and is in the right place mentally, physically and technically.

McIlroy said: “I think the three months I took off at the end of last year really helped, just to get myself healthy and in a right frame of mind to come out this year and embrace everything and try to add to my Major tally and try to become the best golfer in the world again.

“I feel like I am trending in the right direction.

I have had five chances to win this year and I have only been able to do it once. “So I feel like there’s a couple that have gotten away.

But it’s a long season, there are three Majors left this year and I feel I am right where I want to be.”

McIlroy can be backed to win his second US Open at 15.00 with the favourite being current world number one Dustin Johnson at 9.00.