After a few up and down years, it is fantastic to see Rory McIlroy back playing his best golf. The Down native has been in stellar form in recent times, with his Canadian Open victory last week one of his best performances in recent memory.
Of course, we all know that McIlroy is probably the best player in the world on his day. The issue has often been producing that level of play on a consistent basis, most notably at major championships.
There have been signs in recent times that this is slowly changing, with yesterday's opening round at the US Open the latest example.
The 33-year old shot a -3 round of 67 on the first day of the major at Brookline, pulling off some incredible shots during his trip around the course.
That's a classic #USOpen par save for @McIlroyRory. pic.twitter.com/IALtymYI7F
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022
By the end of the day's play, he would sit one shot off the lead and in an ideal position ahead of today's second round.
In saying that, not everything would go his way.
The US Open is often the most difficult of the four major, with the USGA often setting up the course in a way that discourages low scoring.
McIlroy felt the brunt of that at one point, taking his frustration out on a bunker after one of his shots went straight from one sand trap to another.
Rory McIlroy is not a happy man 🤬🤬#USOpenpic.twitter.com/wNwzbejA9c
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) June 16, 2022
We've all been there.
Remarkably, he would actually go on to save par on that hole after an incredible second effort from the sand a few moments later.
A man on a mission. @McIlroyRory saves par at the 5th. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/6SMjcYqGnD
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022
This was one of the only blemishes on what was a very impressive opening day.
Rory McIlroy admits frustration with US Open course
Speaking after the round, Rory McIlroy admitted that frustration was only natural when the course is set up to play as difficult as possible.
You're going to encounter things at a US Open that you just don't really encounter any other week.
It's hard not to get frustrated because I'm walking up there going like, 'just come back into the bunker'. The thickest rough on the course is around the edges of the bunkers.
So I was sort of cursing the USGA whenever I was going up to the ball, but it's one of those things. It happens here, it doesn't really happen anywhere else. You just have to accept it.
I gave the sand a couple of whacks because I'd already messed it up, so it wasn't like it was much more work for Harry (Diamond, his caddie), and then I just reset and played a decent bunker shot... it was really nice to hole that (par) putt...
The margins are just so fine in this tournament, and I think you can sort of see that out there with some of the reactions.
Rory McIlroy is likely to experience a couple more incidents of this nature over the coming days, but he certainly won't be the only player in the field to do so.
If he can limit his mistakes, he will be well in the mix to end his eight-year major drought come Sunday.
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