Tranlate this title Rory McIlroy’s joke to Harry Diamond sums up brutal US Open conditions in spanish

Rory McIlroy was among the favorites before the start of this year’s US Open. 

The Northern Irish golfer is always considered one of the main candidates for the trophy in such prestigious tournaments, so it is not surprising where the attention directed towards the 36-year-old comes from.

However, Rory McIlroy can’t be entirely satisfied after a second-round 71 (+1) left him at even par heading into the weekend.

The Northern Irish golfer, just like his rivals, struggled with the difficult conditions at the US Open, trying to impose his game and get a positive result.

Although McIlroy was at -3 at one point, he suffered a major slump in form not long after, starting a streak of three bogeys. He sent several balls over the green, which caused frustration both during the game and after the end of the round.

Speaking to the media after the second round, McIlroy pointed out that he had several shots that went too far, and that it was extremely difficult to deal with the wind, which made a huge difference.

However, he did not seem overly disappointed, aware that these conditions are extremely demanding for everyone and can often make even greater differences between players.

“I just kept hitting it long. I hit a bad shot on 10. Felt like I hit a good shot on 11 after seeing Tommy and Ludvig come up short. Same thing on 12, where I came up over the back of the green.

Just with the way the wind was. There was a lot of holes where it was mostly off the left or the right but if you got a switch one way or the other it made a huge difference.

It was tough. I think our side of the draw played in the windiest of the conditions and the scores bore that out. I hung in there as best I could. Even par is not terrible. I am only three back of second but Wyndham Clark has built up a bit of a lead, so hopefully I will go out there tomorrow and keep playing the way I am playing.

I am doing the right things. I made a couple of mistakes today which put me behind the eight ball a bit but a really solid two days overall.” Rory McIlroy said.

Rory McIlroy shares a joke he told Harry Diamond

The world number two also shared details about the conversation he had with his caddie, Harry Diamond, during that difficult stretch.

“I joked to Harry that it was straight back into wind this one and I said at least there’s no chance of it going long this time.

That was a great wedge shot [on 12], to stop the bleeding a bit and make a birdie and give me some momentum again.”

McIlroy faced the most difficult conditions mainly during the first day, while on the second day he had somewhat more stable, but still demanding conditions.

The famous golfer still has big plans for the rest of the tournament, hoping he can turn things around and stay in the mix for the trophy.

Wyndham Clark is in first place at 7 under, holding a comfortable four-shot lead over second-place Sam Stevens at -3

Can Rory pull off a major feat?

Rory McIlroy has a real chance of a significant result despite a seven-stroke deficit to leader Wyndham Clark, the specifics of the Shinnecock Hills course allow for major upheavals over the weekend.

McIlroy himself pointed to an example from 2018 when Brooks Koepka won the trophy on this same course after being five shots behind after 36 holes. Shinnecock Hills is an extremely difficult «links» course where the wind and hard surface can destroy the lead of the leaders in a second.

At the end of the day, most people think Rory’s massive amount of experience is what could give him the edge during the final two rounds.

Northern Ireland’s leading golfer has already shone earlier this season, winning the Masters to defend his title. This is precisely why many expect that now, when the pressure is somewhat reduced, McIlroy could enter the final rounds more relaxed and try to achieve a top result.

Of course, his opponents will also wonder a lot.

Most expect Scottie Scheffler, as well as several other top names, to make a strong push in the next rounds and try to reach the very top.

This tournament will bring a lot of excitement down the road, no doubt about that, with the biggest pressure on leader Wyndham Clark, who is aware that he has an outstanding opportunity to lift the trophy.