Rory McIlroy Takes a Swing at the U.S. Open: Tee Marker Mayhem But Survives the Cut!

OAKMONT, Pa. – Rory McIlroy is set for the weekend at Oakmont, but the left tee marker on the 17th hole isn’t. After hitting his drive toward a bunker, McIlroy showed his frustration and damaged the marker with his driver. The impact was powerful—it split the marker in two.

This wasn’t the only time McIlroy lost his cool. On the par-5 12th hole, he took a big swing with a long iron after hooking his shot into the rough. Surprisingly, he saved par on both holes. He finished the day with a 73, making the cut by just one shot at six over par.

Statistically, he’s performing decently. Despite some struggles with his new driver at the last tournament, he ranks in the top 10 for strokes gained off the tee through 36 holes. While he’s losing strokes on approach shots, his situation could be worse. His fellow competitors, Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, combined for a staggering 31 over.

Notably, McIlroy just completed the career Grand Slam at Augusta National two months ago. However, he wasn’t in the mood for conversations with the media this time. With his hat backward, he skipped interviews altogether and headed straight to the parking lot.

This weekend will be crucial for him. Recent sports psychology research suggests that athletes who manage their emotions during competitions tend to perform better. McIlroy’s ability to channel his frustration positively could make a difference as he continues to play.

So, while he navigates the challenges on the course, the golfing world will be watching to see how he responds in the next rounds.



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