US Open champion Rory McIlroy arrives home in N Ireland

Rory McIlroy has arrived home in Northern Ireland two days after his US Open triumph.

McIlroy flew in by private jet to George Best Belfast City Airport shortly after 1930 BST on Tuesday.

Earlier, McIlroy said that his next event will be The Open Championship and that he also will compete in the Irish Open in late July.

The tournament in Killarney is without a sponsor and the presence of McIlroy is sure to increase spectator numbers.

"Definitely, I will be playing the Irish Open later this summer," said the 22-year-old after securing his first major title at Congressional on Sunday.

However, McIlroy has pulled out of next week's French Open.

Fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell did the same after he won the title last year, preferring to let the biggest week of his life sink in rather than rush back into competition.

Whereas McDowell returned at the Scottish Open, though, McIlroy is now set to make the Open at Sandwich on 14-17 July his next start.

The Irish Open suffered a blow when previous backers, telecommunications company 3 pulled out of the sponsorship last November.

McIlroy, McDowell and Padraig Harrington played in the tournament last year when crowds of up to 40,000 watched the action on the Killeen course.