Golf:Rory McIlroy's scintillating form at the US Open, where he has evoked memories of Tiger Woods' brilliant play 11 years ago, left many of his friends and rivals shaking their heads in amazement last night.
The youngster, who won't start his third round until 8.50pm Irish time this evening due to a rain delay yesterday, matched Woods' achievement at the 2000 US Open by charging six shots clear after the second round at Congressional where he has posted a tournament record total of 11-under-par 131.
Compatriot Graeme McDowell, who won last year's US Open at Pebble Beach by one stroke, felt the par-71 Blue Course at Congressional was a perfect fit for the 22-year-old.
"He probably won't get a better US Open layout that suits him than this," said McDowell after following his opening 70 with a 74. "You have to drive the ball very well and he's probably one of the best drivers to hit a ball that I've ever seen. We nicknamed him 'BMW' because he is the ultimate driving machine.
"You forget the rest of the field is one or two under par. He's decimated this US Open golf course and this is no easy test. It's an amazing display of golf."
Padraig Harrington, two over like McDowell, made it plain he does not expect a repeat of McIlroy’s 80 in The Masters in April.
“Augusta can always catch up with you. On any of the par fives your rival can
make eagle, but there’s not holes like that out here.
“Most of the holes if you hit a bad shot you are making bogey. There’s not big
swing holes.”
Long tipped as a future world number one, McIlroy has carded rounds of 65 and 66 at Congressional where he had not dropped a shot until he double-bogeyed the par-four 18th yesterday afternoon.
Making his overall performance even more impressive is the fact that he has bounced back from the bitter disappointment of his Masters meltdown in April when he blew a four-shot lead going into the final round.
Lee Westwood is not sure he can catch McIlroy from 12 behind, but he is certainly not going to help his stablemate yet. After improving from four over to one over with a 68 yesterday England’s world number two was asked what he might say to help McIlroy.
“I’m supposed to beat him over the next two days,” responded Westwood. “I’m hardly going to give him advice, am I?”
The size of the task, though, can be measured by how Westwood plans to approach the closing 36 holes.
“I’m more looking at YE Yang now (the Korean is second six shots back), trying to catch him. If I’m going to win the tournament then I need Rory to play poorly. I might play great and shoot 11 under par and get to 10 (under), but if he shoots level then he wins.
“But when you’ve got a six-shot lead — I know because I’ve had a few — everybody gives you the tournament almost.”
World number one Luke Donald is three shots further back from Westwood and even had to wait until this morning for confirmation that he had made the cut on four over after two rain stoppages on the second day.
“Rory is very impressive,” he said after his 72. “It’s nice to see a player in total control — it doesn’t happen too often.”
