Northern Ireland golf pro Rory McIlroy has got off to a good start in the third major tournament of the year.
McIlroy needed 67 strokes for the 18 holes at the start of the 122nd US Open in Brookline/Massachusetts on Thursday (06/16/2022) and ended his first round with three strokes under par.
The four-time major tournament winner suffered a bogey on his last hole, but the world number three managed birdies on holes seven, eight, 17 and 18. McIlroy has been waiting for his fifth major win since 2014.
Mixed round for the defending champion
Meanwhile, defending champion Jon Rahm had a rather mixed opening round. The Spaniard played a round of 69 and was just one stroke under par after his first 18 holes.
The German professional Marcel Schneider (Pleidelsheim) got off to a weak start. The 32-year-old needed 78 strokes and was already eight strokes over par after his first round. Apart from Schneider, only Yannik Paul (Viernheim) from Germany is at the start.
In the sign of the divided golf world
The US Open is all about the divided world of golf. After the PGA made good on its threat and initially banned 17 participants of the controversial Saudi Tour LIV from their competitions, the renegade professionals are part of the third major of the year.
The organizing US Golf Association (USGA) had refused to change its qualification criteria at short notice. The USGA had to take heavy criticism for this.