McIlroy practises with Lowry as he tries to find spark ahead of US Open
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were first out on the course at Oakmont on Tuesday morning ahead of the first round of the US Open.
The close pals were in high spirits as they played some holes together early in the morning on the notoriously challenging layout.
McIlroy was followed around by his putting coach Brad Faxon, while Shane Lowry's coach Neil Manchip was also with the group.
It has been a strange couple of weeks for McIlroy, who has struggled for form following his sensational win at the Masters.
At last week's Canadian Open, McIlroy slumped to his worst-ever finish on the PGA Tour as rounds of 71 and 78 saw him finish on nine-over-par and miss his first cut since the 2024 Open Championship.
But McIlroy will be hoping to be inspired by Lowry, whom he practised alongside before his historic win at Augusta.
The close pals were in high spirits as they played some holes together on the notoriously challenging layout.
McIlroy was followed around by his putting coach Brad Faxon, while Shane Lowry's coach Neil Manchip was also walked the course.
But McIlroy will be hoping to be inspired by Lowry, whom he practised alongside before his historic win at Augusta.
McIlroy claimed his first and only U.S. Open title in 2011 but struggled in the tournament for several years afterward, missing the cut four times between 2012 and 2018, including at Oakmont in 2016.
But the Holywood man has not finished outside the top ten since 2018 and has gone agonisingly close to winning his second US Open in recent years.
At the Los Angeles Country Club in 2023, he lost a duel with Wyndham Clark, finishing one stroke behind the American.
And last year, McIlroy was disconsolate after two missed putts from inside five feet saw him defeated by Bryson DeChambeau at Pinehurst.
He returns this year, though, as only the sixth man to ever complete the career grand slam.
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At some point, you have to realise that there's a little bit more golf left to play this season - here, Royal Portrush, Ryder Cup." The immediate stern question for McIlroy posed by the challenge of taking on the statistically most difficult US Open venue of all might be coming at an inconvenient time, with well-publicised problems adjusting to a new driver in his bag. On the range and in practice rounds this week at Oakmont, he has looked quite sharp but he himself knows that having a US Open scorecard in hand in round one will change everything. "I like what I saw in practice this week but practice rounds and driving ranges are a bit different to tournament golf, but I'm slowly building confidence," McIlroy said. All of which seems a bit tenuous in terms of preparation compared to the place that the championship favourite Scottie Scheffler occupies this week. 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"I like the look of the place but I'm always on the edge of my anxious self where I want it so much," he said on Tuesday after a nine-hole early morning practice with McIlroy. "My confidence levels can't be too high and I've got to bring myself down to earth and throw my expectations away on that first tee and give it a run. "2016 (when he was joint runner-up) will always be a 'what if'. I'd an unbelievable chance to win and I'd love to have a US Open (trophy) along side my Claret Jug and you never know, this might be the week I could do it." There are of course a myriad of other contenders and the form of defending US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau - who has been outside the top six in just one of the last seven majors - cannot be ignored. John Rahm showed strongly at the USPGA Championship last month before a dramatic fade-away slump over the last three holes. However, his stoic press conference response to that setback was of a player apparently determined to restore a reputation which scaled a peak with his 2021 US Open victory at Torrey Pines and subsequent ascension to world No 1. No one though has Scheffler's level of credentials this week. As a callow 19-year-old amateur in 2016, he opened with a 69 to occupy a place in the top 10 after round one and while he missed the cut that week, he has since become the kind of efficient ball-striking, resilient-minded golf machine that the US Open test sets out to identify.
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8 hours ago
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Three killer holes at Oakmont including one that cost Tiger Woods a US Open as Rory McIlroy and Co face savage test
WELCOME to the torture chamber hosting the world's top stars for the next four days, as the US Open comes to Oakmont for a record tenth time. Some holes are as notorious as the players are famous, with hot favourite Advertisement 11 English ace Justin Rose gets down to business in practice Credit: Alamy 11 Scottie Scheffler is the favourite after three wins in four tournaments Credit: Alamy 11 Bryson DeChambeau asked for patience as he signed autographs Credit: Reuters 11 It's three and far from easy for players at Oakmont this week Back in 2007 legend However, reigning champion And world no.2 But here's a look at three of the toughest holes any golfer could face - plus the verdict of players on the ominous Oakmont course. Advertisement Hole 3 (par 4 - 462 yards) THIS difficult par-four provides the first sight of the massive Church Pews bunker down the left-hand side of the fairway. And if you steer too far wide of it, there is a row of deep bunkers down the right waiting to gobble up balls. Rated as one of the toughest holes on the course — just ask Tiger Woods. He made his only double-bogey here in 2007 and ended up finishing one shot behind eventual winner 11 DeChambeau hailed his US Open glory at Pinehurst last year Credit: AP Advertisement 11 Tiger Woods famously found trouble at Oakmont in 2007 Credit: Getty BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Most read in Golf Hole 4 (par 5 - 611 yards) ONE of only two par-fives and considered a must-birdie hole as it is shorter than the 12th — which can play anything from 632 to 684 yards. Church Pews bunker is in play down the left. Going for the green in two means taking on a long, blind shot. DeChambeau and Rose's response to how club golfers would cope at Oakmont US Open course Hole 8 (par 3 - 289 yards) THIS is where The Beast — as Oakmont is known — really shows its teeth. Advertisement It usually plays into the wind, so most will have to reach for the driver. Johnny Miller made his only bogey when he shot a course-record 63 on his way to the 1973 US Open here. He said it felt like a par! Scheffler's "hardest ever" verdict on the course is more than matched by the assessment of fellow superstar players. Double UPSGA champ Justin Thomas says 'you can look stupid pretty fast' at the US Open venue, and reckons it will 'psyche a lot of guys out before they hit a shot'. Advertisement But another double Major winner, 11 DeChambeau watches his practice putt on the 14th green Credit: Getty 11 Scheffler putts on the same hole on the tournament eve Credit: Shutterstock Editorial But is all the talk about this 7,531 yards par 70 being the toughest course on the planet justified? In the words of Advertisement Johnson finished four under par nine years ago, on a course playing much easier than usual, because so much rain fell it was nicknamed 'Soakmont'. But only three other players in the 156 man field finished below par - all on one under - and 14 of the 18 holes played above par. Eight of them featured in the top fifty hardest holes among the 990 used on the PGA Tour that year. That did not compare to what happened at the previous US Open at Oakmont, in 2007. That year all EIGHTEEN holes played over par. Advertisement Meanwhile, Woods' Pew peril led to caddie Steve Williams suggesting he should throw a few balls in there so Woods could practice escaping from the trap. Woods shook his head and replied: "No way. I don't practice negativity. I'm just going to avoid it. I'll hit away from it every day." The hole that strikes most terror in competitors' hearts is the 289 yards par three eighth, which is likely to be pushed back beyond 300 yards at least once this week. He did, but still only managed to break par once on his way to runners-up spot. But the hole that strikes most terror into the hearts of the competitors is the fearsome 289 yards par three eighth, which is likely to be pushed back beyond the 300 yards mark at least once this week. Advertisement World No 4 He explained: 'I completely forgot that that was the long par three, and I honestly asked Joe, my caddie, and everyone in the group, do you go for this par four or do you lay up? 'Now that I know it's a par three, I recommend going for it! I'll probably hit driver or three wood and hopefully hit the green. If not, make up-and-down. 'Honestly. it's a hole I'll take four pars right now, and walk away.' Advertisement Schauffele reckons some players will have bruised egos about using a driver on a par three, but said they had to 'suck it up' to give themselves the best chance of making par. And he reckons TV viewers will love the carnage they are likely to witness over the next few days. 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He said: 'Being perfectly honest, and very selfish, I hope it psyches a lot of players out. This course requires tons of patience and discipline, and not everyone can get a handle on that. 'Above all else, Oakmont tests the mental aspect of your game. But with tight fairways, deep rough, difficult bunkers and lightning fast greens it also tests you to the limit technically too. 'If you just get lazy - like on any drive, any wedge shot, any chip, any putt - you can look stupid pretty fast. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun 'But I understand this place is hard. I don't need to read articles, or I don't need to hear horror stories. I've played it. I know it's difficult." So sit back and enjoy the ride. It is going to be a bumpy one. 11 Collin Morikawa took a snap of Gary Woodland's club Credit: Reuters 11 Will Chandler spent time on the driving range Credit: Alamy Advertisement
