Rory McIlroy struggles in US Open opening round at Oakmont

Rory McIlroy had a horrible feeling of deja vu after his US Open hopes were dented on the opening day at Oakmont, where most of the big names suffered.

The Masters champion, trying to shake off the hangover of his Augusta National win in April, came to the Pittsburgh course last week on a scouting mission and carded an 81.

While he fared slightly better in Thursday’s first round, his four-over-par 74 leaves him needing to produce something special if he is to win the third major of the year.

He is eight shots off first-round leader JJ Spaun, who tamed the brutal Oakmont course widely described as the hardest in the game, with a blemish-free 66.

The American sits one shot clear of Thriston Lawrence. Sungjae Im, Brooks Koepka and Si Woo Kim are a shot further back on two-under-par.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, the overwhelming pre-tournament favourite, also struggled in posting a 73, along with defending champion Bryson DeChambeau.

Scheffler said: “I just feel like after today, I’ve probably got to give myself a few more looks, it could have been a little bit of a different story.

“But the golf course is just challenging.”

Two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka made a better fist of it, an eagle on the fourth hole helping him to two under, while Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth were one under.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre reckons he played one of the best rounds of his career in shooting a level par, which puts him four shots off the pace.

McIlroy was simply beaten up by an unforgiving golf course which punishes you when you miss the fairway, which the Northern Irishman did plenty of times, and even sometimes when you hit the fairway.

Starting on the back nine, it seemed to be going all too well for the Northern Irishman