Rory McIlroy makes US Open winner prediction as he enters weekend in contention
After a strong start, Rory McIlroy found himself tied for the lead at the U.S. Open alongside Patrick Cantlay. However, McIlroy’s second round at Pinehurst No. 2 was a turbulent one, leading him to a two-over-par 72 and a three-under total heading into the weekend. Despite this setback, McIlroy remains optimistic, predicting that no one…
After a strong start, Rory McIlroy found himself tied for the lead at the U.S. Open alongside Patrick Cantlay. However, McIlroy’s second round at Pinehurst No. 2 was a turbulent one, leading him to a two-over-par 72 and a three-under total heading into the weekend. Despite this setback, McIlroy remains optimistic, predicting that no one will dominate the tournament as Martin Kaymer did when he won by eight strokes in 2014 at the same venue.
McIlroy, a four-time major champion, began his second round on Friday morning with hopes of capitalizing on favorable conditions and fresh greens, playing alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele. His initial momentum from a bogey-free first round, a feat he last achieved at the 2014 Open Championship, was soon disrupted. An early missed birdie opportunity on the par-five 10th hinted at the struggles to come.
The Northern Irishman’s round quickly took a downturn with bogeys on the 11th and the par-three 15th holes. He managed a crucial birdie on the third and a remarkable chip-in to save par just before the turn, only to drop another shot later in the round. This left McIlroy reflecting on the difficulty of Pinehurst’s challenging conditions and its notoriously tricky greens.
McIlroy noted the importance of precision and strategic thinking required on such a demanding course. “You just need to have a lot more thought,” he explained. “Even though I hit a great drive up the 8th hole, I had 151 yards adjusted to the hole. I’m trying to land it 146. I can’t land it 144 because it won’t get up there. I can’t land it 148 because it will go over the back of the green.”
He elaborated on the conservative strategy needed off the tee, which allows for better positioning and angles to the pins. “With irons, you can aim down one side of the fairway to try to give yourself better angles to these pins,” McIlroy added.
McIlroy’s reflection on the course’s conditions and his own performance emphasized the demanding nature of Pinehurst No. 2, contrasting sharply with Martin Kaymer’s decisive victory there a decade ago. “With the way the golf course is and the way some of those hole locations are, I don’t see anyone running away with it today, building up too much of a lead. That’s certainly what Martin did a few years ago here. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out this afternoon,” he said.
As McIlroy heads into the weekend three shots under par, he remains a contender despite his tumultuous second round. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau’s impressive round, featuring five birdies, set the halfway lead at four-under-par, highlighting the competitive nature of this year’s U.S. Open.
The weekend promises to be a thrilling contest as McIlroy and his peers navigate the complexities of Pinehurst No. 2, each striving for the precision and resilience required to emerge victorious.
