USGA : US Open at Shinnecock Hills Tee Times Leaderboard
Rory McIlroy believes that if there's ever a course you can come back to win from seven behind at the halfway stage it's this one, while Tommy Fleetwood says that anyone who has made the cut at the U.S. Open still has a chance at lifting the title.
The last time the championship was held at Shinnecock Hills in 2018, Brooks Koepka came from five behind Dustin Johnson after 36 holes to win. To claim a seventh Major title, McIlroy will need to make up two more than that on current leader Wyndham Clark, who sits at -7.
The Northern Irishman went out in two-under 33 but had a tumultuous start to his back nine, dropping a shot on each of the 10th, 11th and 12th holes.
"The back nine was a bit of a battle," said McIlroy after signing for a second-round 71 to sit at level par for the tournament.
"Started with, you know, three bogeys in a row to start the back. Couldn't stop getting myself to hit it over the back of the green those three holes and then played pretty good from there on in.
"That one mistake on 15, bad chip shot from over the back. But you know, the wind felt like it was laying down first the first few holes. Then it certainly got back up again, sort of around when we made the turn.
So, you know, I think anyone on this side will feel like they got the rough end of the draw, but still feel like I'm in the tournament and in with a decent chance."
McIlroy stressed that chasing Clark does not mean chasing pins, noting that Shinnecock Hills punishes impatience.
"I think Brooks was pretty far back going into the weekend in 2018. So, yeah, if there's a course where you feel like you still have a chance if you're seven back going into the weekend like I am, it's definitely this one.
"I think, you know, and this is -- when you are chasing, it's sort of counterintuitive, but for me if I can limit my mistakes, I know that everyone else in the field is going to make bogeys, so if I can limit my mistakes and pick off a few birdies here and there, I think that's -- hole a couple more 20-, 25-footers than other guys, that's really the strategy.
"I think you still have to play smart, try to keep the ball under the hole, hit it into the middles of the greens and take your chances when they present themselves.
Fleetwood, who played alongside McIlroy,had this to say :
"So it's, yeah, and that's kind of what a U.S. Open's like or a major, you know, you know that if you're on that cut mark and you grind it out and you battle to make the cut, you just never know what can happen over the weekend, depending on condition."
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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