A frustrated McIlroy smashes a US Open tee marker but makes it to the weekend anyway
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — First Rory McIlroy flung an iron down the 12th fairway. Then he used driver to demolish a tee marker on 17. He might not win the sportsmanship award at the U.S. Open, but he will get to play on the weekend.
McIlroy overcame two rounds of disappointment by draining a 5-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Friday to finish at 6-over par and guarantee himself a tee time at Oakmont this weekend.
Advertisement
Other than the approach shot he hit on 18 to save the week, or the 20-foot birdie he made on 15 after teeing off into the first cut, very little of his first 36 holes was pretty.
McIlroy's weekend was still in limbo when he walked to the tee on the drivable par-4 17th hole, then blocked the shot into a greenside bunker. He used his left arm to smash the club down and shatter the nearby tee marker. He made par there.
A few hours earlier on the par-5 12th — another decent birdie chance — McIlroy catapulted his iron down the fairway after pulling his second shot into the left rough. He made par there, too.
The birdie at the end capped a round of 2-over 72. It did not mask the issues McIlroy has been facing since his driver was deemed non-conforming before the PGA Championship, sending him on a mad search for a reliable replacement.
Advertisement
In two rounds this week, McIlroy has hit 15 of 28 fairways, a stat that doesn't include all drivers but is indicative of where his tee game has gone since he won the Masters two months ago to complete the career Grand Slam.
At Oakmont, with its ankle-high rough, two missed fairways over McIlroy's first three holes led to a pair of double-bogeys and forced him to play catch-up for the rest of the round — not to climb into contention, but simply to make the weekend.
Next comes the search for motivation — something McIlroy conceded has been hard to find since his landmark victory at Augusta National. On the line this week is his string of six straight top-10 finishes at the U.S. Open, including a pair of runner-ups the last two years. He will start the third round nine shots off the lead.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Eddie Pells, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
21 minutes ago
- USA Today
2025 US Open Round 3 tee times for Saturday: Groups, TV schedule, streaming
2025 US Open Round 3 tee times for Saturday: Groups, TV schedule, streaming Show Caption Hide Caption Xander Schauffele ready for Oakmont's tough test Xander Schauffele calls Oakmont a true test, where hitting fairways and greens is the only way to survive. USGA Just three golfers remain under par at the U.S. Open after the second round did not finish on Friday due to weather. Play was suspended due to lightning with 13 golfers still on the course in a driving rain, including Thriston Lawrence, who was looking at a three-foot par putt on his final hole to stay at one over on the week when the horn sounded. The second round will resume play at 7:30 a.m. ET. The third round will tee off at 9:12 a.m. ET, with the final pairing of J.J. Spaun and Sam Burns at 3:35 p.m. ET. US Open 2025 Saturday tee times, groups for Round 3 Tee times for the third round have been set. Here's the complete schedule, pairings, with all players teeing off from the No. 1 tee: All times Eastern; (a) amateur 9:12 a.m. – Philip Barbaree, Jr. Philip Barbaree, Jr. 9:23 a.m. – Cam Davis, Brian Harman Cam Davis, Brian Harman 9:34 a.m. – Matt Fitzpatrick, Andrew Novak Matt Fitzpatrick, Andrew Novak 9:45 a.m. – Harris English, Hideki Matsuyama Harris English, Hideki Matsuyama 9:56 a.m. – James Nicholas, Laurie Canter James Nicholas, Laurie Canter 10:07 a.m. – Ryan McCormick, Patrick Reed Ryan McCormick, Patrick Reed 10:18 a.m. – Ryan Gerard, Niklas Norgaard Ryan Gerard, Niklas Norgaard 10:34 a.m. – Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele 10:45 a.m. – Jordan Smith, Justin Hastings (a) Jordan Smith, Justin Hastings (a) 10:56 a.m. – Tony Finau, Marc Leishman Tony Finau, Marc Leishman 11:07 a.m. – Michael Kim, Corey Conners Michael Kim, Corey Conners 11:18 a.m. – J.T. Poston, Matt Wallace J.T. Poston, Matt Wallace 11:29 a.m. – Chris Gotterup, Johnny Keefer Chris Gotterup, Johnny Keefer 11:40 a.m. – Maverick McNealy, Tom Kim Maverick McNealy, Tom Kim 11:56 a.m. – Mackenzie Hughes, Matthieu Pavon Mackenzie Hughes, Matthieu Pavon 12:07 p.m. – Sungjae Im, Jordan Spieth Sungjae Im, Jordan Spieth 12:18 p.m. – Ryan Fox, Robert MacIntyre Ryan Fox, Robert MacIntyre 12:29 p.m. – Taylor Pendrith, Trevor Cone Taylor Pendrith, Trevor Cone 12:40 p.m. – Rasmus Højgaard, Aaron Rai Rasmus Højgaard, Aaron Rai 12:51 p.m. – Daniel Berger, Jhonattan Vegas Daniel Berger, Jhonattan Vegas 1:02 p.m. – Cameron Young, Scottie Scheffler Cameron Young, Scottie Scheffler 1:18 p.m. – Collin Morikawa, Denny McCarthy Collin Morikawa, Denny McCarthy 1:29 p.m. – Jon Rahm, Nick Taylor Jon Rahm, Nick Taylor 1:40 p.m. – Sam Stevens, Keegan Bradley Sam Stevens, Keegan Bradley 1:51 p.m. – Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Carlos Ortiz Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Carlos Ortiz 2:02 p.m. – Chris Kirk, Jason Day Chris Kirk, Jason Day 2:13 p.m. – Tyrrell Hatton, Christiaan Bezuidenhout Tyrrell Hatton, Christiaan Bezuidenhout 2:24 p.m. – Adam Schenk, Max Greyserman Adam Schenk, Max Greyserman 2:40 p.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Thomas Detry Emiliano Grillo, Thomas Detry 2:51 p.m. – Si Woo Kim, Brooks Koepka Si Woo Kim, Brooks Koepka 3:02 p.m. – Russell Henley, Thriston Lawrence Russell Henley, Thriston Lawrence 3:13 p.m. – Victor Perez, Ben Griffin Victor Perez, Ben Griffin 3:24 p.m. – Adam Scott, Viktor Hovland Adam Scott, Viktor Hovland 3:35 p.m. – J.J. Spaun, Sam Burns Watch the U.S. Open with Fubo How to watch US Open 2025: TV, streaming at Oakmont The 2025 U.S. Open will be broadcast by NBC and USA Network throughout all four rounds, with NBC and USA Network splitting coverage for the third and final rounds. The final two rounds of the U.S. Open will be live streamed on Peacock, the USGA app and Fubo. Peacock will also broadcast U.S. Open All-Access, its whiparound-style offering, on all four days. All times Eastern. Third round: Saturday, June 14 10 a.m.-Noon ET on USA Network, Fubo Noon-8 p.m. ET on NBC, Fubo Final Round: Sunday, June 15
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
U.S. Open Saturday live updates, leaderboard: Will Scottie Scheffler rally?
Sam Burns bolted to the lead in the U.S. Open with a brilliant 5-under 65 on Friday. Can he hold it on moving day? Just three players remain under par heading into the weekend at Oakmont, which spent most of Friday chewing up and spitting out everyone but Burns, who sits at 3-under, one shot ahead of J.J. Spaun. Advertisement Lurking? Well, everyone, because as we've seen, things can turn quickly at Oakmont, where double bogey can be found anywhere. This includes World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who may be seven shots back, but is still very much in the hunt. Remember, Johnny Miller, way back in 1973, entered the final round six shots back and won. So there's always a chance at Oakmont, maybe even for Rory McIlroy, who snuck into the weekend and enters Round 3 nine back. Stick with Yahoo Sports for all of the updates throughout the third round of the U.S. Open. How to watch the 2025 U.S. Open All times ET Saturday, June 14 USA: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. NBC: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday, June 15 USA: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. NBC: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
U.S. Open Saturday live updates, leaderboard: Will Scottie Scheffler rally?
Sam Burns bolted to the lead in the U.S. Open with a brilliant 5-under 65 on Friday. Can he hold it on moving day? Just three players remain under par heading into the weekend at Oakmont, which spent most of Friday chewing up and spitting out everyone but Burns, who sits at 3-under, one shot ahead of J.J. Spaun. Advertisement Lurking? Well, everyone, because as we've seen, things can turn quickly at Oakmont, where double bogey can be found anywhere. This includes World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who may be seven shots back, but is still very much in the hunt. Remember, Johnny Miller, way back in 1973, entered the final round six shots back and won. So there's always a chance at Oakmont, maybe even for Rory McIlroy, who snuck into the weekend and enters Round 3 nine back. Stick with Yahoo Sports for all of the updates throughout the third round of the U.S. Open. How to watch the 2025 U.S. Open All times ET Saturday, June 14 USA: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. NBC: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday, June 15 USA: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. NBC: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
