Rory McIlroy Shoots 80 At US Open

It is his worst opening round in a major

Rory McIlroy Shoots 80 At US Open
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It is the four-time major winner's worst ever opening round in a major

Rory McIlroy Shoots 80 At US Open

You can't win the US Open on day one, but you certainly can lose it - and Rory McIlroy played himself out of the tournament on Thursday morning.

The 2011 champion had the chance to topple Dustin Johnson at the top of the world rankings this week. That is now looking unlikely.

He shot 80 (10 over par) which was his worst ever opening round in a major.

It featured three double bogeys, the most he has ever had in a single round at a major.

His 80 leaves him 11 behind the leaders Ian Poulter and Scott Piercy, who tamed Shinnecock on Thursday with superb 69s.

It was a day to forget for Rory. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Starting on the 10th tee, McIlroy boomed his drive down the middle to leave a mere flick in and set himself up with around 6-8ft for birdie, it was the perfect start.

But he missed, and it all went downhill from there. He would bogey the 11th with another similar-length missed putt after finding sand off the tee on the short par-3.

From having a great chance to go -1 thru 1, the Ulsterman found himself +2 after two. That was just the start.

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He would bogey 12 before a double at the 13th to be +4 after four.

He then drove it into the thick rough down the right of the 14th and barely moved his ball after a swipe at it, he was lucky to even find it and needed help from those inside the ropes.

He then chopped another one out and made the green in four - two putts took him to +6 after five.

The four-time major winner bounced back at the next with his first birdie of the day.

McIlroy then made another bogey at the par-5 16th which was his third six in his opening seven holes. He would bogey the 18th to go out in 42 for +7.

McIlroy's opening nine. (Screenshot: USOpen.com)

Incredibly, he would then double the next to be +9 after 10 holes.

He bogeyed his next hole too and had two birdies on holes 5 and 6 before two bogeys on 7 and 9.

A photo posted by on

Jordan Spieth, playing with Rory, also had nightmares early on and closed with a 78.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV