ARDMORE, Pa. — Don’t look now, but Rory McIlory is flying under the radar and quietly sitting just four shots off the lead at the U.S. Open going into the weekend.
In yesterday’s completion of the first and second rounds, it was world No. 2 McIlroy who struck the ball best among his top-ranked threesome, outplaying counterparts Tiger Woods and Adam Scott from tee to green. After Thursday’s weather stopped the trio’s opening round on the 11th green, McIlroy finished off that round with a 3-over 73. With an hour turnaround, he fired an even-par 70 in the second round, and is tied with Woods — four shots behind co-leaders Phil Mickelson and Billy Horschel — entering moving day.
“I’m very happy,” said McIlory, winner of his first major two years ago at the U.S. Open at Congressional, followed by a win at the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island last August. “I’m right in there for the weekend.”
McIlroy wasn’t entirely concerned with the interruptions, nor that he started on a section of the golf course where the difficulty varies widely.
“Tough for a few holes and then it sort of backs off for a couple, three holes, and then it’s tough again,” McIlroy said. “It’s a great mix. I think the variety that you get on this golf course is great.”
Two years ago, McIlroy ran away with his Open, shooting an unheard-of 16-under par outside of Washington, D.C. But Merion’s famed East Course is holding strong.
“If you’re a couple over where you feel like you should be 2- or 3-under par, but it’s not just you that’s struggling out there, it’s everyone else,” McIlroy said. “It’s that sort of course where it’s so many wedges, but you can’t get much under par. It’s just one of those places where par is a great score.”
Scott didn’t take things quite as well. Ranked No. 3 after winning the Masters in April, the 30-year-old Aussie has been prepping for this event for two months. Yet the interruptions and the weather seemed to get the best of him as he finished the two rounds at 7-over, hovering around the cut line.
“It was tricky this morning when we came out,” Scott said. “I got off on the wrong foot and just struggled to find my rhythm all day.”
Scott looked solid for the 11 holes he completed on Thursday, going to sleep with a 3-under total. But he mangled the closing seven holes in the cold yesterday morning, including hitting one out-of-bounds on No. 15, leading to a double bogey.
If the cut rises to 8-over or higher, Scott is not about to toss away his chances for a second straight major.
“It is doable,” Scott said. “Someone who just makes the cut could have a great round Saturday and kind of move their way back into the tournament. I don’t see that beyond the realm of possibility. It’s out there, for sure.”