Rory McIlroy skipped his pre-championship press conference and any chatter of golf's big merger to focus on his day job this week at the US Open, and the early signs are that it has worked to perfection.
The four-time Major winner, the PGA Tour's 'de-facto spokesperson', cut a quiet figure this week at Los Angeles Country Club and did his talking with his golf game on Thursday to post a 65 (-5) despite a whiffed chip shot in the rough on the 18th hole.
McIlroy knew he had to get off to a fast start with the historic 62s shot by Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele in the morning, and his first shot of the US Open went 382 yards straight down the middle that led to a simple birdie on the par 5 opener to set the tone for the day.
Another birdie followed on the 2nd thanks to a tidy wedge shot and a 12 footer that dropped in the center of the cup.
On the 1st and 2nd holes he hit the longest drives recorded of the day on each and started a Major with back-to-back birdies for the first time in his career. A third birdie came quickly at the 5th before arguably his shot of the day at the long par 3 7th.
Rory McIlroy from 258 yards with a 4-iron... pic.twitter.com/sC6UK7006yJune 15, 2023
From 258 yards, the Northern Irishman struck a perfect, high draw with a 4-iron that nestled to within 3ft. It was the easiest of birdies to put him four-under after seven and he'd pick up another shot at the par 5 8th.
He was out in 30 (-5) for his best ever opening nine in a Major championship, and after a solid run to start the back nine he reached six-under with another fine putt at the short par 3 15th.
Rory McIlroy to six-under-par! 15 holes: 15 greens in regulation, six birdies and nine pars. pic.twitter.com/bjOw7ozKfuJune 16, 2023
By this point he had hit 15 out of 15 greens, with his first missed green coming at the next where his wedge shot came up a yard shy of the putting surface.
He made a solid two-putt and then rocketed a drive down the tricky 17th to set up his 16th green in regulation in 17 holes and another simple par.
He once again piped a drive down the 18th but his approach just missed the green left into the thick rough. So tough was the lie, he completely 'whiffed' the first attempt with his wedge sliding right through the bermuda and under the ball.
He chopped the second effort a good 10ft past, and the Northern Irishman managed to compose himself and find the bottom of the cup for a dropped shot and one that will have been a huge relief.
Despite dropping a shot on the last, he will certainly be carrying some momentum into Friday after a near-disaster finish on Thursday evening.
Scoring was low on Thursday at LACC and McIlroy managed to keep up with the leaders. He's only three back after 18 holes and looks set to challenge into a Major weekend once again to try and end his nine-year Major drought.
An exciting three days to follow.
