Rory McIlroy has been backed for US Open glory by fellow Briton Sandy Lyle following his timely triumph at the Canadian Open.
The Northern Irishman will tee off at Brookline Country Club buoyed by clinching the 21st PGA Tour crown of his career in Ontario last weekend.
Two-time major winner Lyle expects McIlory to be brimming with confidence going into the showpiece tournament in Massachusetts, which begins on Thursday. “US Open’s are tough but McIlroy, obviously winning in Canada, that couldn’t have happened at a better time for him,” Lyle told the PA news agency. “He needed that boost.
You can’t go into a drug store and buy that boost of energy, of confidence, it has to be earned and that’s through winning. “And that’s what he did really well, he looked like he enjoyed it. “If I was going to put money down, I’d pick McIlroy right now because of momentum of winning. “(Scottie) Scheffler would be right behind and Dustin Johnson would be next.” McIlroy, 33, previously won the US Open in 2011.