Rory McIlroy matched the biggest 36-hole lead in US Open history with a five-under par 66 for a six-shot edge, but found water at 18 to keep an epic round from being one for the ages.
Ignited by an eagle from the eighth fairway, the 22-year-old stood on 11-under 131 after two rounds at Congressional Country Club, when play was halted by sunset with 21 players yet to finish due to a 42-minute storm delay.
McIlroy was delighted at his brilliant show, which saw him breaking the US Open 36-hole record of 132 set in 2009 by American Ricky Barnes, but had he closed with a par rather than a double bogey he would have broken Nick Faldo’s 36-hole major mark of 130 from the 1992 British Open.
“It has been very, very good,” he said. “It’s very nearly the best I can play.”
South Korean Yang Yong-Eun fired a 69 to stand second on 137. Late-starter Yang kept early starter McIlroy from matching the all-time 36-hole major lead but had no clue how far ahead the 22-year-old had leaped.
“It being such a big gap in the first place, I just didn’t really mind what Rory ended up with,” said Yang. “I didn’t even know his score when I teed off. I just played my game. It actually enabled me to concentrate on my own game.”
Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Americans Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, Robert Garrigus and Matt Kuchar shared third in the clubhouse on 140, nine adrift of McIlroy.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2011.
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