Rory needs to show fight, warns McGinley

PAUL McGINLEY has warned a ragged Rory McIlroy that he has ‘issues which need to be addressed’ after the former world number one failed to catch fire in the US Open for a third year running. The winning Ryder Cup captain feels McIlroy must re-assess his attitude, specifically towards penal courses like Shinnecock Hills. McIlroy’s four major wins between 2011 and 2014 were won with scores ranging from 13under to 17-under. On demanding tracks, such as Oakmont and Shinnecock, where pars are precious, the 29-year-old has struggled. ‘Rory’s CV is littered with success but not at brutally tough courses like this where it comes down to a war of attrition,’ said McGinley. With McIlroy still reeling yesterday after an opening 80, questions are being asked about his ability to reclaim his position as golf’s alpha male. McGinley isn’t ruling it out but believes McIlroy is entering a new phase in his career. ‘It’s going to take a new drive to go with it and a new attitude to go with it. It’s not a technical reason,’ he said. Since his last major in 2014, McIlroy has seen Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Justin Thomas win majors and seize the mantle of world number one. ‘We want to see Rory

out there again, with pointy elbows and that bounce in his stride,’ added McGinley. Whether McIlroy will change his caddy remains to be seen but having his best friend, Harry Diamond, on his bag, has yet to work in the majors. A brace of three-putts at the two short holes on the opening nine, was followed by an ugly double-bogey at the ninth as McIlroy (left) stumbled back to 14 over at the turn. As playing conditions improved for the later starters, McIlroy found some birdies coming in but it was too late. Meanwhile, laid-back Johnson carded a 67 to grab the 118th US Open by the throat on four under par and is firmly on track for a second title. Watching Johnson surge clear with an inevitable pange of regret was Shane Lowry, who nosedived out of the tournament after a 79. Two years after being overhauled at Oakmont by Johnson at the US Open, Lowry was skinned at Shinnecock Hills by the world number one. Starting out six shots behind Johnson, Lowry limped away from the Long Island battlefield. His sloppy 79 contrasted sharply to Johnson’s 67 as the gap between them trebled to 18 strokes. Since their Oakmont duel, Lowry has now missed the cut five times in seven majors. Lowry’s slippage began with a bogey five at the first which set the tone for a dispiriting round without a birdie but pock-marked by seven bogeys and a double. He hit 11 greens out of 18, which wasn’t enough, and took 36 putts, which were too many. For a player who built himself up before the tournament, this was as deflating an exit from any major of his career. As Lowry struggled, there was a reminder of Graeme McDowell’s qualities as dug deep for a level-par 70 in his fight to make the cut. Following his opening 79, the odds were stacked against the 2010 US Open champion but McDowell has long appreciated how precious par can be in this most demanding of majors and set about a salvage mission. After a double bogey at the ninth left him 11 over par, McDowell was staring into the abyss. Pluckily, he fought back with birdies at the 10th and the 16th but may have needed one more to squeeze in for the weekend.