Rory McIlroy brilliantly reignited hopes of a first Major victory in his very first event since his ignominous Masters meltdown.
And after Congresional rounds of 65 and 66, here’s what those looking to deny the Northern Irishman the U.S. Open are saying:-
GRAEME McDOWELL (Two over par)
Although he is 22 years old he’s a very experienced young man and his experience at Augusta will stand him in good stead here.
He probably won’t get a better U.S. Open lay out that suits him than this. You have to drive the ball very well and he’s probably one of the best drivers to hit a ball that I’ve ever seen.
I wish him all the best. I’m going to go out in the morning and try and post a number and get under par and see if I can have a shot at it on Monday.
I caught a bit of his round over breakfast. You forget the rest of the field is one or two under par. It’s tough to keep it in perspective. If you can drive it long and straight on this course it works well. He’s probably the best driver of the ball I’ve ever seen.
We nicknamed him ‘BMW’ because he is the Ultimate Driving Machine.
I played off his drives at the Ryder Cup and I’d love to do it for one week playing off his drives.
Fair play he’s decimated this U.S. Open golf course and this is no easy test. It’s an amazing display of golf.
Y E YANG (Five under par)
I just saw Rory’s score as a daunting task. If it was a stroke or two strokes or three strokes ahead, then maybe it would have added a lot more pressure for me to try and get close to him or at least not lengthen or widen the gap.
But it being such a big gap in the first place, I just didn’t really mind what Rory ended up with. I didn’t even know his score when I teed off.
So I just played my game. It actually enabled me to concentrate on my own game, so secretly I’m very happy that I had another under par round.
LUKE DONALD (Four over par)
Rory is very impressive. He’s playing great. It’s nice to see a player in total control. It doesn’t happen too often. I had it in the first round at Wentworth and he is finding it.
It’s never easy to lead from the front but he is playing well and I hope he keeps playing well.
BRANDT SNEDEKER (Two under par)
Rory’s got more talent in his pinky than I have in my whole body.
He is unbelievably talented. I don’t know how old he is, 21, 22, but shooting those kind of numbers and swinging the golf club the way he does and hitting it as solid as he does, he does everything well.
I love watching him play because it’s a very classical, beautiful golf swing. Once he matures and starts being out here for a while and being in these kind of situations, I think he’s only going to get harder to beat. It’s fun to kind of watch him grow up.
ZACH JOHNSON (Two under par)
The way I look at it, the pressure is off me. I’m not the one that’s supposed to win it right now.
I’m not saying I don’t want to lead, but I don’t know how many shots he’s winning by. It’s got to be at least seven, right, eight, nine?
All I know I’m going to play my game. I can’t control the leader board. I certainly can’t control what Rory is doing or anybody.
MARTIN KAYMER (Two over par)
Rory is obviously running away with it so we are pretty much playing for second unless something crazy happens tomorrow.
I hope he wins it though.
He’s a nice person and he deserves it especially after the Masters. A lot of people were criticizing him then so I’d like to see him do it.
Rory’s shot six and five under. His driving is long enough to take short irons into the greens and I know he holed a shot on the eighth but still 11 under after two rounds at the U.S. Open is impressive and it’s nice to see.
STEVE STRICKER (Two over par)
It’s crazy, isn’t it? Rory just hit it in the water but to still finish at 11‑under is pretty incredible.
But there’s a long ways to go yet. I will be trying to keep hanging in there and keep trying to shoot under par.
He’s got to come back but then the way he’s playing now, it doesn’t seem like he’ll do that.
But you’ve just got to keep fighting and see what happens. But pretty incredible what he’s done so far.
ROBERT GARRIGUS (Two under par)
I’m going to go out over the weekend and do the same thing.
I hit a lot of shots close today, I just didn’t take advantage of it. I’m looking forward to the weekend, hitting it well. It’s going to be fun.
Hopefully Rory doesn’t get too crazy on us, but if he does I’ll be playing for second place, which is not bad, either
SERGIO GARCIA (Two under par)
He’s just playing great, simple as that.
It would be great for Rory to win. He’s a wonderful player, very nice kid. I get along very well with him, too. It would be nice.
Even if what happened at Augusta would have not happened, it would be nice for him to win. I think he deserves it, and hopefully he’ll be able to do it.
PHIL MICKELSON (One over par & played alongside McIlroy)
He’s striking it flawlessly and putted great on the greens. His first two rounds were very impressive.
