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BROOKLINE, Mass. – Three of the game’s young heavyweights sit near the top of this US Open leaderboard.
There is Collin Morikawa, at the age of 25, trying to conquer the third stage of the career Grand Slam.
There’s Jon Rahm, the defending champion, who seems determined to keep the trophy.
And there’s Scottie Scheffler, the Masters Champion and world No. 1, hungry for more.
All three are 27 or younger. All three have won majors in the past 12 months. All three play with the bulletproof confidence and freedom of youth.
And then there’s the old man of the group, Rory McIlroy, now 33 and no longer the shaggy lad who ruthlessly taunts the sport.
When McIlroy last won a major in 2014, Rahm was a rising junior at Arizona State; The other budding superstars were in high school. It felt like it was even longer. For all that McIlroy has achieved since – World No. 1, FedExCup titles, Player of the Year awards – he’s encountered nothing but frustration at the biggest events. His non-major drought, now 28 and rising, has included seven top-five finishes but has also included a string of headaches. Starts slowly. Confusing breakdowns. Balky putti.
That’s what made his first two spins at the country club so promising.
Slow start? Not this time. He opened on 67 to drop back a shot. In all of his four big wins, he was no worse than fourth place after the opening round.
Confusing breakdown? Not this time. On Friday he made three hacks in the hay near the third green and looked like he was going to derail his open bid. Instead, he shot a 30-foot bogey for double bogey and then spent the rest of the day making up the deficit — and then some.
And bulky putting? Not this time. He gained 4.34 shots on the greens in the first round, his best major putting effort since 2015. Overall, he leads the field in putting. Sorry, let’s type that again: Rory McIlroy leads the field in putting. This is startling news for the other contenders.
“I’m in a good place,” he said afterwards. “I’m very happy with where my game is and I think that’s the most important thing.”
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No player in the top 20 in the rankings has McIlroy’s great credibility, but neither do they bear his recent scar tissue. And so he was asked how he reconciles that — his main positive memories being buried (at least by his high standards) by a negative reality.
“I think I have to go out with the attitude that I’m going to try and win my first one again,” McIlroy said. “I’ve played golf better than I’ve played in a long time. I have many experiences. Yes, I’ve won major championships, but just because I did it doesn’t mean I hit better golf shots or better putts.”
Despite being a smashing winner at the 2011 Congressional, McIlroy has a love-hate relationship with our national championship: missing four cuts with four top-10 finishes, including three in a row. This improving trendline can be attributed to more patience, more discipline, and more acceptance. This can be attributed to more maturity, sharper iron play and better putting. It may have been statistically better in 2012 or 14 or 19, but it has never been this complete. That’s why he didn’t get nervous when he flew away on Friday.
“I knew I would have chances, so I didn’t panic,” he said. “I haven’t done anything stupid. I didn’t force anything. I was rewarded for that patience by playing a really good back nine.”
McIlroy may have made two bad swings that cost him three shots, but he also uncorked many more good ones that gave him a 69 in the second round and knocked him back a shot. He’s at 4-under 136.
“Today,” he said, “was a really good example of just having a good attitude.”
At the top of the rankings is Morikawa. Cream is one back. And Scheffler is still a shot behind.
Engaged in a battle with the biggest names in the game, McIlroy needs no reminder of what’s at stake.
“It’s been eight years since I’ve won a major,” he said, “and I just want to get my hands on one again.”