RORY McIlroy travelled to Oakmont Country Club last Monday to get a first look at the U.S. Open venue.
And the he famed but notoriously hard golf course in Pennsylvania has already lived up to its fearsome reputation.
According to Eamon Lynch of Golf Channel, McIlroy revealed that he made a triple bogey on the par-four second hole during his practice round – and that’s despite reportedly hitting what he described as “three good shots.”
The five-time major winner also needed a 3-wood to reach the 298-yard par-three eighth, eventually making bogey.
It marked the first time in years McIlroy had required so much club on a short hole.
Grand Slam winner McIlroy admitted that he’s struggling to find the right driver for his game after a shocking end to his week at the RBC Canadian Open.
The Holywood ace missed the midway cut after a horror 78 on his second round at TPC on Friday.
The 36-year-old found just 13 of 28 fairways in Toronto, and racked up a horror eight on the par-four fifth after spraying his tee shot.
The Northern Irishman has been battling to get to grips with a new 44-inch driver since his old one was deemed non-conforming on the eve of last month’s PGA Championship – where he limped home in 47th.
And that doesn’t bode well for the Down native ahead of the year’s third major on Thursday at Oakmont with the scoring predicted to be incredibly difficult.
Lynch also reported that Australia’s Adam Scott hit every fairway on the front nine, and shot 3-over for 9 holes.
In 2007 US Open, Ángel Cabrera emerged from a punishing week of carnage at Oakmont.
The Argentine carded a gutsy five-over-par total to win his first major.
While the last US Open played at the venue in 2016 saw Dustin Johnson card a final-round of 69, that was enough to finish at four-under and pull away from a chasing pack that included Shane Lowry.
So, expect fireworks this week as the US Open heads back to one of golf’s most unforgiving challenges.
