Rory McIlroy endured a bruising end to his opening round at the US Open, slipping from a promising position into early tournament trouble. At one point on Thursday, McIlroy seemed to have regained his spark sitting two under par and hammering a drive 392 yards but the momentum didn’t last. The back nine at Oakmont, his closing stretch, proved unforgiving. He shot a second-nine 41, ending with a total of 74, including a costly double-bogey at the 8th. It was a stark contrast from the confident figure who claimed the Masters earlier this year and completed a career grand slam.
His performance wasn’t a complete disaster, especially considering past struggles at Oakmont he missed the cut here in 2016 but it was a sharp reminder of the course’s difficulty. Several high-profile players also stumbled: Shane Lowry carded a 79, Justin Rose a 77, and Dustin Johnson a 75. Even defending champion Bryson DeChambeau finished with a 73. Scottie Scheffler, another top contender, could only manage a 73. Johnson’s shanked iron shot from the fairway stood as a symbol of the challenge facing even the most experienced competitors.
McIlroy’s post-Masters phase appears to be a mix of technical and mental challenges. Winning the grand slam was a historic achievement he became only the sixth player in history to do so but such a milestone can shift motivation. His recent victories, including at the Players Championship, have relied more on grit and recovery brilliance than flawless ball-striking. His driving accuracy remains a concern; struggles off the tee at Augusta and the Players have carried over, and Oakmont’s punishing rough is not a place to be experimenting with confidence. His putter, which saved him in the past, offered no such rescue this time.
While many of the big names faltered, JJ Spaun shone. His bogey-free 66 earned him the outright lead by one stroke over Thriston Lawrence. It was a composed and confident performance, building on his strong showing at the Players earlier this year. Spaun spoke about learning to embrace pressure rather than fear it, and that mindset shift appeared to serve him well. He now looks more comfortable competing at the top level, carrying valuable belief from previous close calls.
Elsewhere, Robert MacIntyre produced a solid round of 70 and praised Spaun’s effort, calling it “unbelievable.” Brooks Koepka also impressed with a 68 following a sharp midweek critique from his coach, while Jon Rahm’s 69 kept him within striking distance. Oakmont proved demanding from tee to green players spoke of it being a course where every shot feels like a gamble.
