How is there such a gap in the US open?

[G1BB0]

judging by the scores by most of the 'top' golfers including Donald, Westy, Kaymer, Mickelson and then seeing Mcilroy so far ahead is it purely down to him just having 2 freak rounds back to back as surely he isnt that much better than the others or is it that the course just suits him and not those mentioned above?

It just seems a bit strange to see players struggling to be under par and yet 1 or 2 making it actually look quite easy (to an extent)

Robert Rock is 1 under and not the greatest golfer or the longest, jetlagged and not even had a practice round... Maybe that has actually helped him

I just get a sense that a lot are beaten already just by the course and the occasion as their game looks to be suffering big style.

what do you think is the difference between say Yang and Mcilroy and the rest of the field?

I know there is still a long way to go and things may and probably will change just felt a lot were really struggling just to make par yet Rory even left a few shots out there (missed eagle putt by a couple of inches and a few birdie chances)

Isn't golf great albeit puzzling at times

 

[Grumps]

The commentators keep going on about the greens being unusually soft so players are able to spin the ball more but surely that's the same for all the players not just rory

 

[G1BB0]

exactly, fair play to him for having a blinder so far and maybe someone else will do the same over the last 2 rounds.

Just seemed a lot of awful shots being played right across the field as if there was a lack of confidence or almost an inbuilt fear of the course!

 

[brendy]

The difference is the long irons I reckon. Rory has been surgical bar 2 holes, I have seen a lot of other players miss plenty of greens, now, they might get up and down for par but they arnt giving themselves the same amount of birdie efforts. Good driving is helping too, if Rory was putting it into the deep cabbage he would not be scoring nearly so well.
Round that course long game invites birdies and short game saves par due to it's sheer length and lack of width, both are needed in equal doses if you want to break par.

 

[G1BB0]

Well he always was great with the long irons and decent off the tee

I think also his putting has improved dramatically! earlier he was giving himself chances with his long game but missing putts. I guess he is just playing out of his skin so far. Long may it continue as its great to watch. Especially seeing the yanks cocking it up out of the rough

 

[Piece]

Quite simply Rory's iron play has, so far, been flawless. Others have contained mistakes.

Lets hope he continues in the same way!

 

[Baldyeagle]

Quite simply Rory's iron play has, so far, been flawless. Others have contained mistakes.

Lets hope he continues in the same way!

+1 - 32 GIR out of 36? Blinding ...

 

[LanDog]

It's great to see a young Irish man doing so well him and Gmac last year are finally putting NI on the map

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I don't think you can put it down to anything apart from Mcilroy being in a different league. This is a damn tough golf course and young Rory has simply been exceptional. The fact that everyone else is so far behind only confirms just how good he has been. He's got the lowest 36 hole total in Us Open history, is the first person ever to reach 13 under at any point in the tournaments history and has up until now given the rest of the field a golfing masterclass

 

[birdieman]

He has more natural talent than anyone bar Tiger in the last 20 years. His long game is superb so when he can get the putter going he's hard to match. Long narrow tough course, sorts the wheat from the chaff.
Apparently he has a new putting method in action, seems to be working.
Whilst Donald and Westwood are very talented golfers I think McIlroy, at his age is clearly potentially far better.
Think he gets better at Majors too, just like TW.
At 5'9 and 160lbs it's amazing how long he hits it.

 

[richart]

The course is long, and Rory has been bombing his drives down the fairways. From the fairway he can hit relatively short irons to large receptive greens. When he missed the 18th fairway it lead to a double bogey.

If he continues to drive as well, he will be able to hit irons into the middle of the greens, and not have to chase the flags. I noticed that when he had a long putt his distance control was spot on. As long as the greens do not get hard and fast, i think he will be fine.

 

[Crawfy]

Pure, natural ability from the wee man. Didn't go over par till the 36th hole, and pretty much destroyed the previous 35. Natural length off the tee, laser guided long irons and (at last) confident putting. I hope he rips apart across the weekend and rams it down the throat of those commentators who were so quick to write him off after The Open & Masters. I back him for this and The Open this year.

Come on my son, bring it home !!!

 

[beggsy]

i hope he does it today but knowing the yanks they will have the greens hard so the scores go up and rory dont run away with it