Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy would have been targeting birdie on his 14th hole. He ended up needing a big putt to get par and keep his challenge on track.

If he can keep up the putting form from Canada, and his first round, he should be in contention over the weekend. So it proved on the par-three sixth hole [his 16th] as he sunk a 25-foot birdie putt to join the leaders. His birdie putt was just short, though. That left him with a 15-foot putt to save par. Unfortunately, the connection was slightly off and the ball went into the next bunker over. The rough was tricky and McIlroy needed a solid connection to make the green.

Rory McIlroy reacted furiously to a stroke of bad luck in the first round of the 122nd US Open, despite getting off to a good start at Brookline.

From there McIlroy could only hack his second shot into another bunker a few yards in front of him, prompting a furious reaction which saw him twice slam his club into the sand. The world number three's pushed tee shot finished in thick rough on the edge of a bunker and left him struggling to take a stance in the sand, with the ball well above his feet. After starting from the 10th, McIlroy had covered his first 13 holes in two under par to lie just a shot off the lead as he played the fifth, a short uphill par four.

The four-time Major winner showed his frustrations on day one at the US Open.

He was two-under-par at the time after 13 holes, having made a superb start to the US Open. Rory's tee shot on the drivable par-4 4th hole nestled in the thick rough on the edge of a bunker and all he could do was duff it out into the next one. He won his maiden Major title at the 2011 US Open and has had a great year in the Majors so far with a 2nd at The Masters, his best ever finish at Augusta National, and an 8th place finish at the PGA Championship. He currently ranks 3rd in the world.

It didn't stop the Holywood golfer from surging to the top of the leaderboard.

His only bogey of the round arrived at his final hole after he pushed his approach shot into the rough at the ninth hole. The world number three’s pushed tee shot finished in thick rough on the edge of a bunker and left him struggling to take a stance in the sand, with the ball well above his feet. After starting from the 10th, McIlroy had covered his first 13 holes in two under par to lie just a shot off the lead as he played the fifth, a short uphill par four.

The world No 3 followed last week's RBC Canadian Open victory by posting an opening-round 67 at The Country Club, mixing four birdies with a lone bogey to sit ...

"My caddie just kept saying, fairways, greens, pars are really good, and they are in a US Open. I think I made a birdie on one to get to even and then gave it straight back. "The guys in front of us were playing so slow," McIlroy added. "Just excited with my start, and let's see what the next few days holds. "They were like a hole or hole-and-a-half behind the group in front of them. "Any little thing that doesn't quite go right, you're sort of putting yourself behind the eight-ball. Just basically did everything that you need to do at a US Open.

Rory McIlroy unleashed his frustration down the stretch in his first round at the 122nd U.S. Open.

For more information about cross-device matching, please visit the Network Advertising Initiative or the Digital Advertising Alliance. If you opt out of cross-device tracking for advertising purposes, we may still conduct cross-device tracking for other purposes, such as analytics. Information may still be collected and used for other purposes, such as research, online services analytics or internal operations, and to remember your opt-out preferences. Ad Selection and Delivery Cookies: These Cookies are used to collect data about your browsing habits, your use of the Services, your preferences, and your interaction with advertisements across platforms and devices for the purpose of delivering interest-based advertising content on the Services and on third-party sites. Social media platforms have the ability to track your online activity outside of the Services. This may impact the content and messages you see on other services you visit. Connected Devices: For connected devices, such as smart TVs or streaming devices, you should review the device’s settings and select the option that allows you to disable automatic content recognition or ad tracking. Browser Controls: You may be able to disable and manage some Cookies through your browser settings. Flash cookies need to be deleted in the storage section of your Flash Player Settings Manager. Third-party sites and services also use interest-based Advertising Cookies to deliver content, including advertisements relevant to your interests on the Services and third-party services. They are also used to recognize you and provide further insights across platforms and devices for the above purposes. You should read the Privacy Policy and this Notice for a full picture of NBCUniversal’s use of your information. Measurement and Analytics: These Cookies collect data regarding your usage of and performance of the Services, apply market research to generate audiences, and measure the delivery and effectiveness of content and advertising. You can set your browser to block these Cookies, but some parts of the site may not function properly.

Rory McIlroy found himself in a spot of bother on the fifth hole at The Country Club during the first round of the 122nd U.S. Open in Brookline, ...

I gave the sand a couple of whacks because I’d already messed it up so it wasn’t like it was much more work for Harry, and then I just reset and played a decent bunker shot, and then it was really nice to hole that putt.” “So I was sort of cursing the USGA whenever I was going up to the ball, and then yeah, but it’s one of those things it happens here, it doesn’t really happen anywhere else. Apparently, getting his anger out did the trick because McIlroy exploded his next shot 15 feet past the hole and sank the par putt. McIlroy was forced to take a whack at it while standing in the bunker. He would finish at 3 under, tied for the clubhouse lead. All he was trying to do was take his medicine and pitch it out back to the fairway.

Brad Faxon is one of the best putters in golf history — and he's been helping Rory McIlroy with his putting since 2018.

He just looked so comfortable over the ball, so instinctive and reactive,” he says of Rory. “People see that confidence in Rory over his full shots. They don’t forgo technical work altogether; Rory says he’ll use a mirror about once a week to make sure his eyes are level and don’t angle out to the right, as they tend to do, and that he keeps to make sure he keeps his right elbow into his side more. It all started with a phone call to Faxon, one of the best putters of his or any generation, in 2018. Not as a his coach, but rather, as his peer. That’s helped him find his flow on the greens. “When in reality, 90 percent of what you’re doing with putting happens before you hit the putt.” “My goal was to get him freed-up and confident in his stroke. “Putts like those are huge for momentum,” Rory said after his round. Struggling on the greens, he spent an entire Monday afternoon at the Bears Club in Jupiter with Faxon, and had his best putting week of his season later that week. During his three-under first-round 67 at this week’s U.S. Open, his flatstick helped him gain 4.25 shots on the rest of the field — making it the statistically strongest part of his game during his opening round. You’ll notice how much it breaks at the end.” But as it did, Rory held his follow through.

Rory McIlroy shot an opening-round 3-under 67 at the U.S. Open on Thursday, saying he is not motivated by the threat of the LIV Golf Invitational Series but ...

"Again, some of these reactions that maybe you saw out there today, whether it be hitting the sand on 5 or the club throw on 9, you just have to be so precise and so exact at this golf tournament, maybe compared to some others," McIlroy said. It was the 21st victory of his career, which moved him past Norman in career wins. He pushed his approach shot to the right of the green and threw his club in frustration. But, yeah, you're going to encounter things this week that you don't usually come across the other weeks of the year, and you just have to try to accept them as best you can." After making birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 to move to 4-under, McIlroy lost his cool again on the par-4 ninth, his final hole. "I'm just being me. "I gave the sand a couple of whacks because I'd already messed it up, so it wasn't like it was much more work for [caddie] Harry [Diamond]," McIlroy said. The margins are just so fine in this tournament, and I think you can sort of see that out there with some of the reactions." "You're going to encounter things at a U.S. Open, whether they be lies or stuff like that, that you just don't really encounter any other week," McIlroy said. It was an eventful opening round for McIlroy at the golf course outside Boston. He started on the back nine and carded a bogey-free, 2-under 33. It's certainly a different mindset when you get off to a good start, and yeah, I've just got to keep it going." With an opening-round 3-under 67, McIlroy put himself in great position to do just that.

Rory McIlroy unleashed his frustration down the stretch in his first round at the 122nd U.S. Open.

For more information about cross-device matching, please visit the Network Advertising Initiative or the Digital Advertising Alliance. If you opt out of cross-device tracking for advertising purposes, we may still conduct cross-device tracking for other purposes, such as analytics. Information may still be collected and used for other purposes, such as research, online services analytics or internal operations, and to remember your opt-out preferences. Ad Selection and Delivery Cookies: These Cookies are used to collect data about your browsing habits, your use of the Services, your preferences, and your interaction with advertisements across platforms and devices for the purpose of delivering interest-based advertising content on the Services and on third-party sites. Social media platforms have the ability to track your online activity outside of the Services. This may impact the content and messages you see on other services you visit. Connected Devices: For connected devices, such as smart TVs or streaming devices, you should review the device’s settings and select the option that allows you to disable automatic content recognition or ad tracking. Browser Controls: You may be able to disable and manage some Cookies through your browser settings. Flash cookies need to be deleted in the storage section of your Flash Player Settings Manager. Third-party sites and services also use interest-based Advertising Cookies to deliver content, including advertisements relevant to your interests on the Services and third-party services. They are also used to recognize you and provide further insights across platforms and devices for the above purposes. You should read the Privacy Policy and this Notice for a full picture of NBCUniversal’s use of your information. Measurement and Analytics: These Cookies collect data regarding your usage of and performance of the Services, apply market research to generate audiences, and measure the delivery and effectiveness of content and advertising. You can set your browser to block these Cookies, but some parts of the site may not function properly.

Rory McIlroy signed for a three-under-par 67 to share the clubhouse lead on the first day of the US Open at Brookline.

“They were like a hole or hole and a half behind the group in front of them. Luckily there was somebody in Canada who went to the airport and gave the airport staff a little kick, and they arrived on Sunday at 2pm. “The margins are just so fine in this tournament and I think you can see that out there with some of the reactions.” On day one at the Country Club there were flashes of McIlroy brilliance and flashes of McIlroy frustration. “You feel like you’re right in the tournament from the start of the week, which is nice,” said the four-time major winner. There is precious little that could switch the discussion around golf from matters of Saudi Arabia, a rebel tour and the resulting grisly civil war.

McIlroy carded a three-under-par 67 at Brookline to share the early clubhouse lead with England's Callum Tarren, Sweden's David Lingmerth and American Joel ...

“Just excited with my start, and let’s see what the next few days hold.” “So I was sort of cursing the USGA whenever I was going up to the ball, but it’s one of those things. “Once I played our front nine in two under, the goal was to try to play this round without a bogey. It’s something to learn from. “It’s hard not to get frustrated because I’m walking up there going like, just come back into the bunker. “But it’s fine.

The four-time major champion shot 3 under on Thursday to open play at The Country Club.

As the U.S. Open finds its footing, though, it will be nice to shelve the talk of brouhahas and scuttlebutt between organizations that are fighting an inequitable yet inevitable war. "I was sort of cursing the USGA whenever I was going up to the ball. A major championship that, based on the unintended consequences of the dilution of regular season golf, now means more than ever before. Surely shouldering the dynamic load of an entire sport has eroded his emotions in ways he might not even be able to recognize right now. "You're going to encounter things at a U.S. Open, whether they be lies or stuff like that, that you just don't really encounter any other week," said McIlroy of the 5th hole. After his round, he called out the players in front of his group for being slow and explained why he was so frustrated. His game gives his words gravity, and gravity rules the world. Though he's not exempt from criticism for club tossing and sand excavation projects, it's also a bit of a delight to see somebody who at times has seemed as if was sleepwalking at major championships clear-eyes and completely engaged. Rory then birdied No. 7 and No. 8 to drive his scored to 4 under before a frustrating bogey at the last led to a club toss and some words that NBC wouldn't be able to air even if desired. "Almost to remind yourself sometimes how much it means to you as well." On Thursday, in the first round of the 122nd U.S. Open, he reminded everyone why his words carry such weight. The four-time major winner is in an eight-year drought when it comes to winning big ones, but McIlroy entered the week playing as well as he's played in years.

Brad Faxon and Rich Beem both paid tribute to Rory McIlroy after his impressive opening round at the US Open, where the former world No 1 made a strong ...

But saying that, he also had a really good start at the PGA Championship, where he had the lead and he stumbled a little bit the next day. He came out and did exactly what he needed to do, made a couple of really nice par saves early but kept momentum with a couple of birdies on the front nine and just really played a solid round. He is certainly in a position where he would have taken it at the beginning of the day."

Rory McIlroy's win at last week's RBC Canadian Open included a rare mid-tournament equipment switch. It was the latest edition of a battle between two ...

Since that testing session at home, McIlroy has used the Stealth model as his higher spinning 3-wood option, and the SIM as his lower spinning option. …I’ll hit 3-wood maybe a couple times, but the 5-wood is probably just a better club for quite a few holes here.” Based on that testing session, McIlroy concluded that he preferred the higher spin rates of the larger-sized Stealth model versus the Stealth Plus he used initially. “There’s a few opportunities to hit drivers here, but I think it’s just so important to get it in the fairway,” McIlroy told GolfWRX. “I can carry the 5 wood 270-275 in the air off the tee. As a quick refresher, TaylorMade’s SIM Ti (Titanium) fairway woods hit retail in February 2020, and McIlroy has been using the 3-wood off and on ever since. A little more in control. A little more spin. … (The Stealth is) a little more workable. It’s either you lay back quite a lot with a 5-wood, or you get it up there with a driver. It’s a little weaker, a little spinnier, sort of more just to get it in play,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday. “The SIM is a little hotter, a little lower spin, sort of get it out there a little more. “I (used) the SIM (in Canada), I just didn’t hit it much last week,” McIlroy told GolfWRX on Wednesday. “There was honestly no real need for a 3-wood last week, just with the yardage. Rory McIlroy’s win at last week’s RBC Canadian Open included a rare mid-tournament equipment switch.

Rory McIlroy posted a 3-under-par 67 in the first round Thursday at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, to put himself in contention.

“You feel like you’re right in the tournament from the start of the week, which is nice,” McIlroy said about getting off to a good start in a major. And McIlroy could become the first in the game’s history to win a PGA Tour event the week before winning the U.S. Open. “I’m going into tomorrow with the mindset of let’s keep it going, rather than where is the cut line or whatever, if you don’t get off to a great start those thoughts start to creep in. Joining McIlroy at 67 WERE Callum Tarren, Joel Dahmen, David Lingmerth and MJ Daufee. The week didn’t start well for Tarren as his clubs didn’t arrive with him from Toronto. It was the second time at a U.S. Open his clubs weren’t with him after a flight. In the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, he didn’t get his clubs until the day before the tournament started. Just basically did everything that you need to do at a U.S. Open.” Adam Hadwin was atop the leaderboard for most of his afternoon round. But McIlroy collected himself and made a 13-footer for par to keep momentum on his side. Even though I’m standing up here slightly frustrated that I bogeyed the last, it’s a great start to the tournament. So I was sort of cursing the USGA. “The thickest rough on the course is around the edges of the bunkers. And then he swatted the ball 10 yards into another bunker and took some mighty whacks at the sand in frustration.

Rory McIlroy didn't ask to be a leader, but he's embracing the role both on and off the course.

The Northern Irishman stands much taller than his 5-foot-10 frame would suggest and it’s almost like he understands that the burden of leadership comes with high expectations both on and off the course. His last major triumph was eight years ago, and as last month’s PGA Championship, where he also started with an under-par card (65) only to finish in eighth place, proved there is no correlation between predictions, however educated, and the final product. After taking a hack to advance his ball out of the shaggy rough, McIlroy went full manic on the sand with his club. That gave me a little bit of extra incentive today, and happy to get it done,” he said. But McIlroy dropped his U.S. Open grip just for a moment. I was sort of cursing the USGA whenever I was going up to the ball.” The thickest rough on the course is around the edges of the bunkers. “I'm walking up there going like, just come back into the bunker. That’s the thing with leadership; you rarely get to pick where and when to answer the call. “I guess I took a lot of players' statements at face value. It turned out there were plenty of willing participants, just not any who cared to mean what they said. But on this McIlroy has led both on and off the golf course.

After several notable opening-day stumbles, Rory McIlroy jumps up the leaderboard early for a second straight major with patience, guile and a little fire.

And on the latter —all while displaying a full range of emotion—the 2011 U.S. Open champion made a 13-footer for a par on the drivable par-4. More than perhaps anyone else in the field, he had a pressing need for at least a solid beginning. If the lie was awkward, his stance was even more so, the ball above his feet. I gave the sand a couple of whacks because I'd already messed it up. Forced to hold his club on the shaft rather than the grip, McIlroy could only prod the ball into another bunker no more than 15 yards ahead. And I hit the ball in the right spots. And shoot a 67 that clearly left him more than satisfied. I hit a lot of greens and gave myself plenty of chances. “I missed it where you can’t miss it,” was his rueful verdict. Indeed, as has been the case so often in the recent past, the four-time major champion appeared ill at ease between tee and green over his opening holes. More immediately, McIlroy’s three-under-par total represents further evidence that he is finally cresting a hill of his own making. More of the same over the next couple days will spare us the familiar rampage through the field in tepid weekend pursuit of yet another relatively meaningless “back door top-10.”