Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his tee shot on the eighteenth hole during the second round of the 111th US Open at Congressional Country Club on June 17, 2011, in Bethesda, Maryland.
Photograph by: Jim Watson, AFP/Getty Images
BETHESDA, Maryland — Rory McIlroy completed the lowest 36-hole total in U.S. Open history on Friday despite a double-bogey finish that brought back memories of similar major leads the Ulsterman has squandered.
The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland fired a five-under par 66 to stand on 11-under 131 after two rounds at Congressional Country Club, firing five birdies and an eagle before finding water at 18 to settle for an eight-shot lead late in the second round.
"It would have been great to get up and down for bogey. But you can’t dwell on it," McIlroy said. "I played 35 very good holes and that’s what I need to focus on."
The Irish prodigy broke the old U.S. Open 36-hole mark of 132 set in 2009 by American Ricky Barnes, but had he closed with a par he would have broken the 36-hole major record of 130 by Nick Faldo at the 1992 British Open.
"It has been very, very good," McIlroy said. "It’s very nearly the best I can play."
But McIlroy, a contender for the fourth major in a row, has been down this path before and been found wanting.
McIlroy opened with a 65 to co-lead the Masters in April, led by four after 54 holes and by one with nine to play before a back-nine fade to an 80. He led last year’s British Open after a 63 but had an 80 in a windswept round two.
"I took a few things away from the Masters that I felt I could incorporate into my game and I said we’ll find out how they go when I get myself into that position again," McIlroy said.
"We’ll see how it goes over the next couple of days. It’s a big challenge. Every time I keep myself leading in majors, I’m getting more and more comfortable.
"You are going to be comfortable when you are hitting great shots."
South Korean Yang Yong-Eun birdied the par-3 seventh and par-5 ninth to reach five-under, six back of McIlroy, when play was halted by lightning for 42 minutes.
Yang returned at the 10th tee and found a bunker off the tee but salvaged a par to sustain his momentum.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Americans Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker and Robert Garrigus shared third in the clubhouse on 140, nine adrift of McIlroy.
"If he keeps playing the way he’s playing, we’re all playing for second," Snedeker said.
On the Canadian front, Calgary’s Wes Heffernan is likely to play on through the weekend after a two-round total of 146 (4-over-par). Heffernan was even-par on Friday. Play was halted for the day after dangerous weather moved into the area late in the evening. Seven groups still need to finish the second round and the projected cut was 4-over.
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., was on the 18th hole when the weather moved in and sits at 5-over. Canada’s other entry, Oshawa Ont.’s Jon Mills finished at 7-over and his U.S. Open is over.
Mills was 2-over in the second round.
No American holds a major title and if none wins this week, it will mark the longest run of majors in the modern era without a U.S. winner.
"The pressure is off me," Johnson said. "I’m not the one that’s supposed to win it right now."
McIlroy has a chance to match the all-time 36-hole lead in a major, the nine-stroke edge of Henry Cotton from the 1934 British Open and the 36-hole US Open record lead of six shots by Woods in 2000 at Pebble Beach.
On a morning when no rival could mount a challenge, McIlroy was astonishing and he grabbed a stranglehold on the event with his amazing 113-yard wedge shot from the eighth fairway.
McIlroy launched the ball to the back fringe of the green and watched from the fairway as the ball slowly rolled back 25 feet and into the cup.
Lifting his arms into the air, McIlroy looked skyward and smiled as playing partner Phil Mickelson, a four-time major champion and five-time US Open runner-up, could only applaud in amazement at the feat by his playing partner.
"He’s striking it flawlessly and putted great on the greens," Mickelson said. "His first two rounds were very impressive."
McIlroy became the first man to reach 13-under par at any stage in US Open history with a birdie at 17, one better than the old mark set by Gil Morgan in the third round in 1992 and matched by Tiger Woods in the final round in 2000.
But then came the mishap on 18 after a tee shot pulled into the left rough.
"I got a bit of grass caught between the club face and the ball and it just turned over a little bit," McIlroy said. "Unfortunately it went into the water. Just one of those things."
Magical McIlroy birdied the par-4 fourth and par-5 sixth and followed his eagle with birdies at 14, 16 and 17. At the par-5 16th, McIlroy drove the green in two, missed a 12-foot eagle bid and settled for a tap-in birdie.
"I’ve played two really good rounds of golf but I know I have to play another two if I want to win," McIlroy said. "I have to keep it going over the next couple of days. I’m halfway there, but there is still a long way to go."
The past 10 majors have been won by 10 different players and seven of the past eight majors have been taken by first-time major winners, streaks McIlroy would continue with a triumph
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar