McIlroy aims to avoid Masters-like collapse
Northern Ireland prodigy continues to lead the US Open.
BETHESDA:
Rory McIlroy’s errant shot off the 10th tee in the final round cost him a chance to win the Masters, but it might just have given him what he needed to make the US Open his first major victory.
McIlroy seized an eight-stroke lead after the third round of the US Open with a three-under par 68, his record-low total of 14-under 199 making distant spectators of the rest of golf’s greatest players.
But questions persist after McIlroy’s failure to finish off the Masters two months ago, when he led by four after 54 holes and one starting the back nine before hooking his tee shot left on the way to a triple bogey and a last-day 80. However, the 22-year-old is confident that he will not suffer a similar fate here.
“From the experience I had at Augusta, I know now how to approach tomorrow, and I think that’s the most important thing,” McIlroy said. “At Augusta, it was all a little bit new to me, going into the final round with the lead, but now I know what I need to do.”
South Korea’s Yang Yong-Eun finished second on a 70 while England’s Lee Westwood and Australia’s Jason Day, who both had 65s, and Robert Garrigus of the United States, with a 68, were a further stroke back.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2011.
Rory McIlroy’s errant shot off the 10th tee in the final round cost him a chance to win the Masters, but it might just have given him what he needed to make the US Open his first major victory.
McIlroy seized an eight-stroke lead after the third round of the US Open with a three-under par 68, his record-low total of 14-under 199 making distant spectators of the rest of golf’s greatest players.
But questions persist after McIlroy’s failure to finish off the Masters two months ago, when he led by four after 54 holes and one starting the back nine before hooking his tee shot left on the way to a triple bogey and a last-day 80. However, the 22-year-old is confident that he will not suffer a similar fate here.
“From the experience I had at Augusta, I know now how to approach tomorrow, and I think that’s the most important thing,” McIlroy said. “At Augusta, it was all a little bit new to me, going into the final round with the lead, but now I know what I need to do.”
South Korea’s Yang Yong-Eun finished second on a 70 while England’s Lee Westwood and Australia’s Jason Day, who both had 65s, and Robert Garrigus of the United States, with a 68, were a further stroke back.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2011.