McIlroy to Join US Record Breakers

Rory still smiling at US Open

Fred Daly a Northern Irish professional won The Open Championship in 1947 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake and was the first player from the island to have won the event until Padraig Harrington in 2007 at Royal Birkdale – which he repeated in 2008. In that same year the Dubliner bridged the gap in the PGA Championship when at Oakland Hills he saw off the challenge of Sergio Garcia, and in doing so, became the first European to win the event since Tommy Armour in 1930. 

Daly was born in Portrush, County Antrim and was the professional at the Balmoral Club in Belfast when he won the Open. He died in 1990 and was not to see his feat emulated by Harrington. Or the feat of another Portrush born golfer, Graeme McDowell, who last summer made further history by ending the forty year drought at the US Open at Pebble Beach, repeating a feat last done by Tony Jacklin. This summer at the Congressional in Maryland it looks like there will be another Northern Ireland repeat with Rory McIlroy entering the final round of the US Open holding a record breaking eight shot lead. 

Like Harrington’s back to back Open wins, the Holywood golfer looks like he won’t let the grass grow after GMAC’s breakthrough last year, given the manner in which is he playing this week. 

Whatever is in the water in the North East part of the island should now be bottled as the conveyor belt of talent continues in the wake of the achievements of Darren Clarke, Ronan Rafferty, David Feherty, and the generations previous such as Jimmy Heggarty, back to the time of Fred Daly and Norman Drew. The current European Tour is alive and well with the magic of Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey, and the likes of Gareth Shaw, Jonathan Caldwell and Simon Thornton, still chasing the dream. With Portstewart’s, Paul Cutler, looking set also to make the breakthrough from the amateur ranks in due course. 

For former Ryder Cup star, David Feherty, who has been resident in the US for a few decades now, the reasons behind all this talent may again prove beyond explanation as it did the last time he interviewed McIlroy at Quail Hollow in 2010 – after the 20 year old walked off the course with a record breaking round of 62. 

Although since that day the warnings have been coming in the majors with increased speed and it was no surprise he caused a stir at St Andrews with his opening round, or the improved consistency over three days at the Masters. 

With that Sunday in April still fresh in his mind McIlroy and his caddie JP Fitzgerald have been dreaming of the moment when they could set the record straight and Sunday at The Congressional it will no doubt happen. Which for the Americans though, such news will be another reminder that for another twelve months the US Open trophy will be everywhere but on the PGA Tour, adding to the departure of the Masters to South African Charl Schwartzel on the European Tour, and the fact that Martin Kaymer of Germany will return to Georgia to defend the PGA Championship later in the year at the Atlanta Athletic Club. 

If you add the Accenture World Match play title held by Luke Donald, and The Open held by Louis Oosthuizen and then the 2010 Ryder Cup by Europe, it is a momentary reminder that in the absence of Tiger Woods the American golf cupboards are currently very bare. 

But for the fans watching behind the ropes in Bethesda those global trophy battles will not matter, as they are seeing a scintillating display of golf from a Rory McIlroy that exudes everything that is good about the game – manner, poise, talent, enjoyment and a carefree swagger. A breath of fresh air from the over intensity, ill temper and swearing that has afflicted Tiger Woods in more recent years, which for younger fans watching must be more enjoyable. 

However the comparisons are closer between the two in other ways, given their precocious talent, and could be more so after Sunday as Woods won his first major at Augusta when he was 22 in 1997. So did Jack Nicklaus in 1962 when he won the US Open. 

Last May McIlroy turned 22 years of age and in collecting the trophy on Sunday is set to break those records and become the youngest ever winner. 

One imagines it is only the first of many.

Only Pundits Nervous About Rory

Some seven years ago Gerry McIlroy placed a four hundred pound bet at 500 to 1 that his son Rory would win The Open before he was 25 years old. Last July relaxing at the new St Andrew's Hotel his money would have looked safe on the Thursday evening, after his son carded an opening round 63. But it was not to be, although it might at Royal St. George’s next month, or Royal Lytham and St Annes next year. 

What is clear though, is that Gerry’s money is in good hands and by the time the Open returns to St Andrew's in 2015 the bet will have been well collected. Just a pity the original bet did not include a major as well given the performance at Congressional this week. From where most people stand it’s beginning to look like the Sunday medal at Holywood Golf Club in County Down, as the 22 year old devastates the record books and leaves YE Yang the nearest challenger six shots adrift. 

Funnily enough in the wake of the St Andrews second round 80 and a similar score in the final round of the Masters in April, the only things that seem nervous at the moment are the pundits. 

Over the past two days they have all been wriggling with fear as they mix words of caution with high praise, sprinkled with warnings to all that there are still two rounds to go. 

In April at Augusta Butch Harmon predicted that McIlroy would not win the Masters, and in fairness he was correct, even in some of the reasons he proffered. In the build up his analysis was all about the movement of the ball, “Rory hits the ball from right to left, so that’s the good news,” suggesting that McIlroy’s draw shape off the tee will benefit him on several holes, “but I’m not sure his short game is of the quality of some of the other players.” Credit to Harmon he predicted the ball flight correctly, if only the tenth tee on the Sunday when McIlroy planted his ball between two houses on the left side of the fair way. 

On Friday night in a one-on-one with David Murray of Sky Sports, Harmon was again preaching caution given there were 36 holes left to play, and the USGA were bound to make the course harder as the weekend went on. Although Rory found water on the 18th and dropped two shots as a result, the truth is the margin should really be eight strokes. And if this were Tiger at the height of his powers, and the legend of red shirt Sunday still held a sense of invincibility, then most of the world class field would be half packed by now and just playing for a place. Undoubtedly because of Rory’s high profile duff days the experts are perched fearfully of another Devon Loch moment. 

This moment came in the 1956 Grand National, when a horse called Devon Loch was racing the final stretch with a five-length lead, only to inexplicably jump into the air and collapse flat on its stomach with jockey Dick Francis unable to get the Queen Mother’s; horse, to complete the race. 

How the horse actually managed to do what it did remains unexplained to this day, which is completely unlike McIlroy's experiences at St Andrews and Augusta. Clearly, in his own mind he got out of the moment and his Friday TV interview at Congressional showed a man who is unlikely to make the same mistake again on the Bethesda course. Albeit he knows he will make others, as unfortunately Rory cannot played defensive golf as it is not his style. 

What the pundits like Harmon need to look at is the 1997 Masters Tournament when Tiger Woods won his first major championship with rounds of 70-65-67-69 leaving Tom Kite, the nearest challenger, 12 strokes behind. At the time Woods was 22 years of age, and his win of -18 broke the four-day tournament low record at Augusta. As we know, since that win Woods continued to write history amassing 14 major championships, and 71 PGA Tour events. 

The feat of Nicklaus in 1962 is also worthy of note as it heralded his arrival to the game, which he still dominates to today with an unrivalled 18 Major titles. 

That tournament was at Oakmont Country Club, near Palmer’s home, who at the time was the most popular golfer in the world. The young upstart chasing his crown was a brash Nicklaus, who was unpopular with the crowd, seen as badly dressed, slightly portly and far from the popular player he was to become in the years after. Despite being taunted by the crowd, Jack won the 18-hole playoff against Palmer – securing his first major at 22 years of age. 

Although there was little doubt entering the 1962 U.S. Open, that Nicklaus was going to have a good PGA Tour career, as he was the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA] Championship winner, also a 2-time U.S. Amateur champion , with two previous U.S. Opens finishes of second and fourth place. But in the 1962 event he was in his rookie year as a professional, with no wins in 17 starts, and was not really expected to challenge the status quo – never mind win the event in Arnold Palmer’s back yard. But he did, no doubt to the surprise of the golf pundits of the time. 

It was Arnold Palmer, after losing the play-off, who perhaps uttered the most prophetic words about Nicklaus as he clutched the trophy, "Now that the big guy is out of the cage, everybody better run for cover." 

So started the era of the Golden Bear. 

So will start the era of Rory McIlroy in Bethesda this weekend.

Dylan Manning 

Jack Set the Benchmark in 1962

McIlroy find birdies at Congressional

It is nothing short of amusing to reflect on the numerous articles written, posted and blogged the Monday following the Masters in April, all forensically searching for the reasons for Rory McIlroy's disastrous round the previous day. The matter in question was an errant drive on the 10th that triggered one of those most feared golfing moments that has now become part of folklore, adding to others as far back as Sam Snead in the 1947 U.S. Open, Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters, Jean van de Velde in the 1996 Open Championship or Sergio Garcia’s heartbreak at the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in 2008, losing a three shot lead to Padraig Harrington. 

At the Congressional Club on Thursday it was good to see McIlroy on the tee box at the US Open with the same caddie, JP Fitzgerald, the same equipment, no less sponsors and that boyish demeanour that only McIlroy can exude without offence. With gallons of ink consumed in the print media since the Masters, the offers of help have been endless, as have those offering reasons as to what is wrong with McIlroy’s game - and a lengthy list of potential other solutions. 

For “Weemac” himself, it was all more much low key and he flew out of Georgia quietly travelling with the Masters Champion, Charl Schwarzel, alongside him for a 22 hour flight to Kuala Lumpur, fulfilling a commitment at the Maybank Malaysian Open. After some rest, there was time spent with Dave Stockton on his putting, a trip to the Champions League final at Wembley and also a number of tournaments, all played as normal. Indeed he said it best himself in his pre-US Open press conference, “I’ve learned over the past few months you can’t take a lot of notice from what other people say. You have to go out and do it yourself. 

In the build up to this week there were signs that this could be a good week for him, as even Rory noticed the support and empathy about as he finalised his preparations, which were interrupted for a few days when he visited Haiti. The 22-year was there in his role as UNICEF ambassador, and saw firsthand the challenges that still exist 18 months after an earthquake shook the most destitute nation outside the African continent. Undoubtedly adding greater context for Rory’s Masters Sunday experience. 

"I just felt a little tentative throughout the whole day," he said. "I wasn't quite as free-flowing as it was the first few days." 

"That's all you can do. It's not the end of the world," he said. "You analyse it, you pick things from it what you think you could have done better. And when you get yourself into that position again, you try and put those things that you want to do better into practice." 

In many ways, Rory arrived at the Bethesda course with the pressure on his country man GMAC, who as the defending champion had to return the trophy he has carted around the world for the past year. McDowell also returns to the event where his rollercoaster season started and deals with the other demands entailed in being the first European winner in 40 years – and the defending champion. All at a time when he has failed to establish rhythm to his game the season, which saw a missed cut at the Masters, and a round of 81 at the Wales Open. 

Against that backdrop McIlroy would have been delighted to slip into the Congressional Country Club under the radar, and able to focus on his own preparations unhindered. So far the plan is the working for the Hollywood man, even if some is ink being spilled recalling McIlroy’s second day St Andrews last July where an opening 63 at the Open Championship, was followed on the Friday with a second round 80. Or similar comparisons with three rounds at Augusta, which ended up becoming that now often cited Sunday collapse. 

A tag which the last winner of the US Open at the Congressional, Ernie Els believes will be lost sooner, rather than later. 

"I'm probably the best guy to ask for advice because I've done so many things in my career where I didn't quite close a lot of events. 

"Rory made some mistakes at Augusta and, hopefully, he's learned from it and didn't get too despondent about it. 

Els could be right as the US Open in 1962 at Oakmont Country Club in Western Pennsylvania a 22-year-old rookie with no wins in 17 professional starts reached the playoff against Arnold Palmer, who that week was both reigning Masters and Open Champion. In beating Palmer in the play-off, Jack Nicklaus finally made the breakthrough and that victory kick-started the Golden Bear era of eighteen major titles. Which is sill a benchmark to this very day. 

Els said it the best in his advice to McIlroy. 

"If he keeps his head up, I think he's going to win a lot of Majors."

McIlroy Leads US Open Day 1

Rory McIlroy insisted it could have been even better despite shooting a fabulous 65 to establish an early three-shot lead at the US Open.

The Northern Irishman banished the miserable memory of his last major outing at the Masters with a brilliant display at Congressional Country Club.

He collected six birdies during a bogey-free opening round in Maryland as he charged to the top of the leaderboard.

"It felt good," he told Sky Sports afterwards. "To be honest it felt like it could have been a couple of shots better, but I'll take 65.

"I played really good out there, I didn't make any mistakes - I think I only missed one green so when you do that in a US Open you're going to do pretty good.

"I'm hitting the ball both ways, feel very comfortable with pretty much every aspect of my game and I feel comfortable on this golf course as well.

"So when you put all that into consideration you're going to do pretty well.

Good preparation

"I think my preparation is a big thing to do with it. I like to get to the venue a week early, do my practice rounds before anyone else gets here and then I feel like I can sort of rest and conserve my energy and put it into the four tournament rounds."

McIlroy completely outshone playing partners Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson and admitted he had thrived on the big galleries that followed the marquee group.

"It was great," he continued. "The first 15 holes was fantastic and then with the weather coming in the crowds got a little smaller but I really enjoyed playing in front of a crowd like that and I'm looking forward to it tomorrow morning again.

"The greens were getting pretty chewed up this afternoon and this rain will do them the world of good.

"Hopefully with fresh greens tomorrow morning I'll be able to go out there and post something pretty similar to what I did today."

He also insisted he was determined to wipe out the memory of his Masters meltdown by securing a maiden major triumph this time around.

"I totally understand where the questions are coming from and as I said in my press conference on Tuesday I need to prove, not just to myself but to everyone else, that I have learned from Augusta and I have moved on," he concluded.

2011 US Open Leaderboard

Lowry Starts Well at US Open

Graeme McDowell set off on the defence of his 111th US Open title while Shane Lowry was the first Irish player onto the course as overcast skies threatened rain at Congressional Country Club in Washington.

Lowry was in the first group to set off from the first and US Open debutante made a decent start with three opening pars. He would drop a shot at the fourth but got back on level terms with a birdie at the next. Pádraig Harrington started from the 10th and opened with a par before making a bogey followed by a birdie. Rory McIlroy is one of the later starters, 6.35pm Irish time.

McDowell, who claimed his first major title by one shot at Pebble Beach last year, started from the first hole at 12.55 Irish time and had an interesting start. After a bogey at his opening hole, the 31-year-old immediately bounced back with a birdie two at the next to get back on level terms.

The Portrush pro has been drawn with British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and American Peter Uihlein, the reigning US Amateur winner, for the first two rounds.

World number one Luke Donald has been grouped with second-ranked fellow English golfer Lee Westwood and third-ranked German Martin Kaymer with the high-profile trio scheduled to tee off on the 10th hole at 1.06pm.

American Phil Mickelson, who has finished runner-up at the US Open on five occasions but never won the title, was among the afternoon starters in a glamour pairing with big-hitting compatriot Dustin Johnson and McIlroy.

Johnson and McIlroy have both been in contention to win majors in recent months but squandered 54-hole leads going into the final round to come up short.

With former world number one Tiger Woods a notable absentee this week while he continues to recover from his left knee and Achilles tendon injury, the year's second major is wide open for the taking.

Kaymer, who landed his maiden major crown at last year's US PGA Championship, believes up to 40 players in the 156-strong field are genuine contenders for the title.

"Probably 10, 15 years ago there were only 10 or 12 players who could win but now it's so spread out," said the German. "We have had 10 different winners in the last 10 majors that we've played so it's very open at the moment. It can be anybody this week - 30 to 40 players is my guess."

Seven of the last eight major champions have been first-time winners and neither top-ranked Donald nor his fellow Englishman Westwood has yet lifted a Major title.

In other first-round groupings, Sergio Garcia has been paired with fellow Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alvaro Quiros while the Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari will be joined by their countryman Matteo Manassero.

US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa was set to tee off in the afternoon with two other winners of the green jacket, Trevor Immelman, also of South Africa, and Zach Johnson.

The first blow of the 2011 US Open was struck by South Korea's Kim Dae-hyun who pushed his tee shot into the right fairway bunker at the par-four opening hole.

American Chez Reavie split the fairway with his drive while Lowry also ended up in the right bunker but managed to make par.

By the time the players prepared to hit their second shots, light rain was falling at Congressional. A mixture of sunshine, showers and thunderstorms is forecast for the rest of the day.