Rory McIlroy leads the first round of 111th US Open: First Round Highlights
The 22-year-old Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy recorded another strong opening round in the second major of the season, The US Open at Congressional Country Club’s difficult and one of the longest Blue Course in Maryland.
This is the third time that the US Open has returned to the Congressional after it was last staged here in 1997, when South African Ernie Els went all the way to win his second US Open title. McIlroy not only went over to lead the first round of the championship
but also has an overwhelming lead of three shots over the rest of the field, which is also the biggest opening round lead since 1976.
"It's a major championship, and the toughest major championship of them all is the U.S. Open, and you can't let any other thoughts get in your head," McIlroy said. "You're just trying to concentrate entirely on your game, and trying to get that ball around
the course in as few strokes as possible."
McIlroy, though one of the finest young players who has soared in the world rankings, has a tendency to let go of his lead in the final rounds, probably caving in to the immense pressure of the final holes. The Irishman has shot only two over-par rounds
of 80 in his 112 PGA Tour rounds, both of them coming in the final rounds of major championships. He succumbed to 80 in the final round of the Masters earlier this season and the other 80 came in the Open Championship in 2010.
Reigning Masters champion, Charl Schwartzel posted a round of three-under, 68 to finish off for a joint second alongside Y.E Yang of South Korea. Schwartzel continues to perform to the best of his capabilities after his stellar success in the Masters in
April, where he pulled in four record breaking birdies on the last holes.
While Yang, after capturing the coveted PGA Championship title, has returned to pitch for another major title and cites his fondness for Congressional as the main reason.
The most sought after players in the event had disappointing first rounds with their over-par scores. World number one Luke Donald posted a round of 74, world number two Lee Westwood, a 75 and world number three Martin Kaymer closed his day with 74.
"It's not a very good score because I think the course is there for the taking," said Westwood, who played in the morning. "Obviously, it's a tough test, but I thought the golf course was set up great today."
The course played tough on the players, although the roughs have not been as vicious as they normally are for the US Open. Evening rounds saw slight rain and thick breeze blowing off the course, but the proceedings were not halted. Par-five, 6th
turned out to be the easiest hole on the course with 36 birdies and a total of 20 bogeys on it. While Par-four, 11th turned out to be the deadliest with 10 birdies and a whooping 50 bogeys on it.
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