Rory McIlroy admits to ‘weird’ US Open record as he bids for second title

Rory McIlroy concedes his record in the US Open is “weird”, but heads to Brookline confident of challenging for a second victory and overdue fifth major title.

McIlroy romped to an eight-shot victory at Congressional in 2011, claiming his first major title with a dominant display rendered even more remarkable by the fact that it came just two months after his painful collapse in the Masters.

The then 22-year-old became the youngest US Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923 and the youngest major winner since Tiger Woods triumphed at Augusta National in 1997, breaking a host of scoring records on the way.

Yet although further major titles followed in the US PGA Championship (2012, 2014) and Open Championship (2014), McIlroy never contended in the US Open before missing the cut for three years running from 2016, his chances effectively ended by first rounds of 77, 78 and 80.

Since then, however, McIlroy has finished ninth, eighth and seventh and is no mood to settle for keeping that sequence going in strict mathematical order.

“It would keep my top-10 run going in the majors but that’s not really of any consequence,” McIlroy said with a smile.

“The US Open has been a weird one. I went through a few years of not playing well at it but honestly, it’s been the major the last few years that I’ve felt the most comfortable at.

“I don’t know if it’s just my style of game has evolved, being a bit more conservative off the tee. Maybe it’s something to do with the fact that Mike Davis (former USGA chief executive) doesn’t set the golf courses up, either.

“Not anything against Mike, I just seem to enjoy US Opens a little more than I used to. But sixth place, look, I’m playing well and I know if I go and play my game at Brookline