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It was a shot that won’t appear on any Winged Foot highlight reels from this first round of the 120th US Open, but he told Rory McIlroy that he has finally turned the corner after a frustrating summer on the field.
It wasn’t a killer drive, it wasn’t a monster putt, it didn’t even lead to a birdie on a day when McIlroy shot a 67 of three-under, his lowest opening round in a major championship since a 66 in each of his wins. in 2014. at the Open and PGA Championships.
However, it was a hit of the ball that gave him the most satisfaction of the day and he conquered a demon or two that will send the Irish into the second round today with confidence and in the fight for a first major in six long years.
To be fair, there were many more obvious options for McIlroy’s best shot of the day in a round where three of his four birdies made it to the par-three holes and made a single shot.
His tee shot at the third par three, his first round 12th hole landed six feet from the pin for his fourth and final birdie of the day as he drove the green at the sixth par four only to undo his good work. hitting a 50-foot triple and seeing his chance for a four-foot birdie.
However, it was earlier in the day that put McIlroy in a good mood, at par four 16, his seventh hole of the day at this famous and difficult West Course near New York City. His tee shot had left him 198 yards to the hole and the 2011 US Open champion moved him within 18 feet of the hole, but it was the way the world number four made him smile.
“It was like 20 feet, but the second shot at 16 because it’s the shot that I’ve been struggling with a bit, where the wind was off to the right and I had to start from the green, and I’ve been hanging them a little and I haven’t committed to letting it back down, and that was a really good shot, “McIlroy said after his first round.
“But it was 20 feet; people would see it as a normal shot, but it was a small win for me because it was a shot that I’ve been struggling with recently. “
In truth, McIlroy had a lot to take as wins after so many disappointments since the PGA Tour restarted after closing in June. On the one hand, his 67 was the lowest opening round at a US Open since the 66 he pitched at the Congressional in 2011, the platform for his first major win and got underway with his first birdie on the opening hole. of this championship, courtesy of a 19-foot downhill putt at par three 10.
There was a nine-foot putt to save confidence at 12, while par-three on 13 saw the four-time senior champion hit his tee shot at four feet for his second birdie of the day.
The 18th brought the third birdie, thanks to a right-to-left putt from 23 feet and although there was a drop shot in the first when McIlroy made the turn, that birdie came in the third par three. All in all, a strong start to this year’s rarest second major, McIlroy 67, three under par, two behind clubhouse leader Justin Thomas.
“From the tee, just driving the ball, putting the ball in play from the tee, that was important today. I did well for the most part. I still lost a few streets, but was able to recover from there. But I did a lot of good tee shots, something I was seeing a bit of in the later stages (of the Tour Championship two weeks ago), but it was good to see today.
“I made three putts for par in six, there were a couple more chances I missed, the three putt for bogey at 1. So there were chances to maybe sneak another two or three of the round. But at the same time, 67 here is always going to be a good score.
“It gives me a little more confidence in my game, maybe a little more commitment to my swing off the tee, without guiding it that much, being really able to flow freely and make good, committed swings.
McIlroy’s compatriots will have to work hard to get through today’s second round after the disappointing opening days at Winged Foot. None other than Open champion Shane Lowry, who came down to a shuttlecock with a birdie-birdie opening only to bogey five of his next six holes in the first nine holes.
Irish amateur international and 2019 amateur champion James Sugrue was back foot from his opening hole, missing the green at par three 10 and was six over par approaching the closing holes, while Graeme McDowell finished. with a six out of 76 and his credit, still determined to make it to the weekend despite missing only six of the 14 streets.
“Just reboot and try to come back tomorrow, see if I can’t sneak in over the weekend and do some damage over the weekend,” said the 2010 US Open champion.
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