McIlroy: I should have done better
RORY’S REGRET DESPITE SUPER START AT MAJOR
RORY McILROY shot his best opening round in a Major since his victory at the 2014 US PGA yesterday – and then insisted he could have gone lower.
The four- time Major winner has made an unfortunate habit of starting slowly and playing catch- up in the biggest events.
But playing his first Major as a father, McIlroy admitted he was a “little more relaxed” as he carded four birdies and only one bogey in his 67 to capitalise on friendly conditions at fearsome Winged Foot.
He opened with a 66 before winning his last Major six years ago. In his 20 Majors since, his opening score average has been 72.35 – and 72.63 in his last eight Major starts.
Yesterday, his superb driving led to his lowest opening round in the US Open since 2011 at Congressional, where he went on to win by eight shots.
The world No4 has not won this event by any stretch – but he has not played himself out of contention.
“I was maybe putting myself under a little too much pressure to get off to a good start,” said the 31- year- old. “First round of a Major you’re always anxious to play well and maybe I’ve overthought it at times. I just went out today and took what was given to me a little more relaxed and played really nicely. At a US Open, if you can get off to a good start, you’re not chasing as much. And when you chase on US Open courses, that’s when you make mistakes and compound your errors.”
Starting on the 10th hole, McIlroy rolled in a 15- footer for his first ever opening- hole birdie at the US Open. Birdies at the 212yard 13th – where he hit his tee shot to three feet – and 18th saw him make the turn in threeunder par before the only blemish on his card – a three- putt bogey on the first hole. As promised, he drove the par- four sixth but took three putts from 40 feet.
McIlroy added: “It was one of those rounds I felt like could have been a little lower than it was. There were chances there to maybe sneak another two or three out of the round.”
England’s Matt Wallace saw the “funny side” of hitting a “divot further than the ball” after asking his caddie, Dave McNeilly, to tend the flag for a 50- yard chip.
As he tried to hole out from the fairway on the par- five 12th hole, the world No47 chunked the chip to start a run of three consecutive bogeys.
Wallace, who recovered to card a level- par 70, tweeted: “I kinda found the funny side after I hit the divot further than the ball # chunkcity.”
Andy Sullivan carded a 71 with Justin Rose shooting a 73, three better than Graeme McDowell.