Rory throws his toys out of the sandpit
Rory McIlroy may only be one shot behind surprise leader Adam Hadwin after the first round of the US Open, but the world No 3’s threeunder-par 67 was overshadowed by an out-of-character tantrum after getting into bother in a bunker.
Four-time major winner McIlroy had briefly held the clubhouse lead at the Brookline course in Massachusetts, until a miscued shot off the tee on the 14th hole put him a tricky position in the rough above a bunker.
The Northern Irishman attempted to hack his way out of trouble, but only managed to find another bunker, prompting him to twice angrily smash his club into the sand.
McIlroy quickly regained his composure to save par, but not before his meltdown went viral. He later tried to explain his furious reaction.
‘‘It’s hard not to get frustrated because I’m walking up there looking at my ball and going like, just come back into the bunker,’’ he said. ‘‘The thickest rough on the course is around the edges of the bunkers.
‘‘So I was sort of cursing the [US Open organisers] USGA . . . but it’s one of those things that happens here and not really anywhere else. You just have to accept it. But it was a driveable par four, you’re thinking of making birdie, and all of a sudden you’re scrambling for par.’’
McIlroy made no apologies for his outburst either, saying it was ‘‘almost to remind yourself sometimes how much it means to you’’ as he chases his first major title in eight years.
Meanwhile, Ryan Fox and Danny Lee’s hopes of springing a major surprise are all but over after disastrous opening rounds for the Kiwi pair.
World No 63 Fox carded a fourover 74 to leave him in a tie for 105th spot, eight strokes behind Hadwin, of Canada, who shot a sizzling fourunder 66.
Hadwin holds a one-shot lead over a chasing pack featuring McIlroy, Callum Tarren, David Lingmerth, Joel Dahmen and MJ Daffue.
Fox’s compatriot Lee fared even worse, posting a six-over 76. Fox is in good company on four-over, with major winners Sergio Garcia and Jim Furyk also struggling.
Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson, the most high-profile of the rebels who have joined the cashrich Saudi tour, carded an eightover 78 on his controversial return to officially sanctioned events. It’s the sixth straight time he hasn’t broken par in the first round of the US Open. Mickelson was celebrating his 52nd birthday but had little to cheer on the course after a wretched round.