Rory McIlroy has expressed confidence in the possibility of British golfers completing a historic sweep by winning the third major championship of the year at this week’s U.S. Open. The Northern Irish star highlighted the recent success of British players in major tournaments, pointing to a potential "Brit three-peat" as the U.S. Open begins Thursday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York.

Following McIlroy’s successful defense of his Masters title earlier this year, England’s Aaron Rai claimed victory at the U.S. PGA Championship in May. This marked only the second time in history that British golfers have won the first two majors of a season, the previous instance occurring in 1925 when Scot Willie MacFarlane took the U.S. Open and England’s Jim Barnes secured the Open Championship.

McIlroy, who is currently ranked world No. 2 and has won six major titles including the 2011 U.S. Open, praised the depth of golfing talent emerging from the UK and Europe. He described Shinnecock Hills as the closest American course to a traditional seaside links style, which plays to the strengths of many British players. “There’s a lot of talented golfers coming out of the UK and Europe these days,” McIlroy said. “This course is more a European style of test than the first two Majors at Augusta and Aronimink. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me to see a few players from the UK and Europe in contention on Sunday.”

Currently, one-third of the top 21 players in the world golf rankings hail from the UK, underscoring the region’s strong presence in the sport. McIlroy also noted the increasing familiarity European golfers have developed with American courses, given that three of the four majors are hosted in the United States. “Over time we have got a lot more comfortable with the set-ups and the style of golf that you need to play over here,” he added.

Off the course, McIlroy is following the ongoing FIFA World Cup with interest, particularly Scotland’s return to the tournament after a 28-year absence. Speaking with a Scottish journalist, McIlroy acknowledged the excitement surrounding the Tartan Army’s presence and the team's potential to progress from the group stage. “It’s been interesting—Brazil and Morocco drawing opens the door for Scotland to walk straight through to the knockout stages,” he said. “It’s a good distraction to be able to go back from the golf course, turn the football on and forget about the golf for a little bit.”

Shinnecock Hills, located on Long Island, is near Bethpage Black, the site of last year’s Ryder Cup where McIlroy faced intense hostility from the home crowd while helping Europe secure victory. He contrasted his experience at this major tournament with the Ryder Cup atmosphere. “I love playing around New York. This area has got some of the best golf in the world,” McIlroy said. “This is different to the Ryder Cup. That is us-versus-them, very partisan. A Major is a different beast.” Despite some difficult moments during the Ryder Cup, McIlroy reflected that the challenges he faced were an acceptable part of his career. “Was it a rough week for me at times? Absolutely. But if that’s a price to pay to live the life I’m living, then I’m OK with that.”