OAKMONT, Pa. — Rory McIlroy showed his frustration during the U.S. Open with a couple of dramatic moments on the course. After launching his iron down the 12th fairway and later obliterating a tee marker on the 17th with his driver, he managed to secure a spot in the weekend rounds at Oakmont, though his sportsmanship might not earn him any awards this time around.
McIlroy ended two challenging days by sinking a crucial 5-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Friday, ensuring he finished at 6-over par, which initially looked precarious but was enough to see him through to the weekend at Oakmont. The cut line hovered around 6 over for a significant portion of the day but eventually shifted to 7 over before the round was cut short due to rain, leaving some players still competing.
Apart from an impressive approach shot to secure his final hole or a 20-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole after a tricky start, McIlroy’s performance, marked by rounds of 74 and 72, offered little else to rave about. Additionally, his current streak has extended to six major competitions where he hasn’t given any post-round interviews.
Uncertainty surrounded McIlroy’s place in the weekend until he arrived at the tee of the drivable par-4 17th. An unfortunate block into a greenside bunker led him to vent his frustrations by smashing a tee marker with his club. Nonetheless, he composed himself to finish with a par. Earlier on the par-5 12th, after pulling his second shot into the rough, McIlroy launched his iron down the fairway in annoyance but managed to save par once again.
Finishing with a 2-over 72, McIlroy’s closing birdie couldn’t entirely overshadow the ongoing difficulties he’s been facing following the PGA Championship, when his driver was ruled non-compliant, forcing him to search for a reliable alternative. His stats this week—hitting only 15 out of 28 fairways—reflect the struggles with his tee shots that have plagued him since achieving his career Grand Slam with a victory at the Masters two months prior.
Navigating Oakmont’s challenging rough, McIlroy’s struggles with missed fairways in the first three holes resulted in two double bogeys, compelling him to scramble to remain in the running for the weekend rather than contend for the lead. Now, the challenge for McIlroy is finding motivation, something he’s admitted has waned post-victory at Augusta. He’s aiming to extend his streak of six consecutive top-10 U.S. Open finishes, which includes being runner-up twice in the previous two years, as he starts his third round nine shots behind the leader.