U.S. Open: McIlroy conquering Congressional
Friday, June 17, 2011 by Admin
Bethesda, Md. -- With an eagle at the par-4 eighth hole, first round leader Rory McIlroy continued his dismantling of Congressional Country Club during Friday’s play at the U.S. Open. Starting the day at 6-under, the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland birdied the fourth and sixth to add to the two-shot tally he made on eight by holing a pitching wedge from the fairway.
The eagle got McIlroy, who was flawless through 13 holes, to 10-under for the day -- until he birdied the 14th. McIlroy was absolutely lapping the field, with the next-closest golfers, Zach Johnson, Kyung-tae Kim, and Y.E. Yang, eight shots back.
Johnson made his own eagle at the par-5 sixth.
Rory McIlroy raises his arms after stuffing an eagle on the 8th hole at Congressional CC during Friday's second round of the U.S. Open (Photo: Cannon/Getty Images)
Top amateur Peter Uihlein had the tourney’s sole eagle on opening day, finding the bottom of the cup on the fifth hole on Thursday, while Ty Tyron bombed a two on the par-4 first hole (his 10th of the second round). It was too little, too late for Tryon, however, as he was DFL at 18-over through 14 holes.
McIlroy’s playing partner, Phil Mickelson, finally found his way back to Congressional. After an atrocious 3-over on Thursday during a train-wreck of a round that could have been far worse but for his scrambling abilities, Mickelson canned back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth holes and added another at eight before bogeying the 11th. He got that back with another bird on 14, to move to even-par for the week.
The southpaw was certainly having a better time of it a day after his tee shots yesterday landed in far corners left, right, and everywhere but the fairway on a challenging layout he made far more difficult with his erratic shot-making.
"I can’t hit it any worse," Mickelson told Golf News following his horrendous Thursday.
Oh -- and this little tidbit from the PGA Tour: When McIlroy drilled his eagle, he became the first player to get to double digits under par during the second round of a U.S. Open. The closest Tiger Woods came to that feat was to hit 4-under at Pebble Beach in 2000, according to the tour.
Rory McIlroy raises his arms after stuffing an eagle on the 8th hole at Congressional CC during Friday's second round of the U.S. Open (Photo: Cannon/Getty Images)
Top amateur Peter Uihlein had the tourney’s sole eagle on opening day, finding the bottom of the cup on the fifth hole on Thursday, while Ty Tyron bombed a two on the par-4 first hole (his 10th of the second round). It was too little, too late for Tryon, however, as he was DFL at 18-over through 14 holes.
McIlroy’s playing partner, Phil Mickelson, finally found his way back to Congressional. After an atrocious 3-over on Thursday during a train-wreck of a round that could have been far worse but for his scrambling abilities, Mickelson canned back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth holes and added another at eight before bogeying the 11th. He got that back with another bird on 14, to move to even-par for the week.
The southpaw was certainly having a better time of it a day after his tee shots yesterday landed in far corners left, right, and everywhere but the fairway on a challenging layout he made far more difficult with his erratic shot-making.
"I can’t hit it any worse," Mickelson told Golf News following his horrendous Thursday.
Oh -- and this little tidbit from the PGA Tour: When McIlroy drilled his eagle, he became the first player to get to double digits under par during the second round of a U.S. Open. The closest Tiger Woods came to that feat was to hit 4-under at Pebble Beach in 2000, according to the tour.
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