McIlroy in Holywood Remake

Photo: Courtesy Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy decided to do the Rocky thing before teeing off in the U.S. Open.

The world's No. 2-ranked player said earlier this week that he was "half-thinking" of heading into the City of Brotherly Love to the spot where the fictional Rocky Balboa jumped up and down triumphantly after running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

On Wednesday, the 24-year-old from Northern Ireland tweeted: "Can't come to Philadelphia and not see the `Rocky' steps!!" along with a photo, shot from behind, that shows a jubilant figure with arms raised Rocky-style and wearing a Phillies baseball cap backward.

The museum is about 10 miles from the Merion Golf Club, where McIlroy ended Thursday by dropping from even to a 3 - over 73.

The Holywood golfer showed glimpses of some struggle on Thursday evening with a three-putt bogey on No. 11, and his troubles continued on Friday, coming up short of the green on No. 15 that led to bogey, needing two chips to get to the green on the par-3 17th that led to another bogey and then found a bunker with his approach at the long par-4 18th, sending his bunker shot 20 feet past after nearly flying it in and two-putting for bogey.

Yet, with scores continue to slip further and further over par, all three are currently inside the top 60, which will be the cut line, likely determined late Saturday morning after the second round concludes.