Rory McIlroy reiterated on Sunday after an encouraging closing 67 at Oakmont Country Club that his mental head space still isn’t quite right. But he knows just where that might finally change, and it isn’t likely to be at the upcoming Travelers Championship.

McIlroy is scheduled to play next week’s Travelers Championship, the season’s final signature event on the PGA Tour, before heading to the United Kingdom for next month’s Scottish Open and Open Championship, which will be played at Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush.

OAKMONT, Pa. — Twenty-odd years ago, I sat with Ian Woosnam on a golf cart at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Woosie is the practically-minded son of a Welsh farmer and not given to deep reflection, but on one question he was. He told me he could pinpoint exactly — to the day — when his career decline began.