US Open 2025: Rory McIlroy scrambled to make cut and still looks completely out of sorts

By

Something is eating Rory McIlroy.

How does a guy go from the pinnacle of professional fulfilment to the petulant, club-throwing, tee marker-smashing anger ball that’s been stomping around Oakmont Country Club the last two days?

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL US OPEN COVERAGE

McIlroy, who won the Masters two months ago and completed the career Grand Slam, recovered from two early double bogeys to shoot a respectable two-over 72 Friday in the second round of the US Open. He capped his rally from outside the cutline with a five-foot birdie putt on 18 after unleashing a ridiculous 340-metre drive.

He must have been proud of that effort, getting to the house at six-over 146 and making the cut for the seventh straight time after a desultory run of three straight MCs from 2016-18. It showed heart and the high level of talent he can muster when he doesn’t have his best stuff.

Of course, we have no idea what he’s thinking because he declined all interview requests from the media. That makes six straight major rounds that the reigning Masters champion has blown off the Fourth Estate after completing play.

When a USGA official approached him about his availability, he walked from the scorer’s room to the clubhouse without stopping, saying merely, “No, I’m good.”

Dude, you are far from good.

In contrast, McIlroy’s fellow Irishman and friend Shane Lowry granted an interview after going around Oakmont in 17-over 157. His second-round 78 included a mindless penalty when he picked up his ball on the 14th green before he had marked it. “It’s probably one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done,” said the former British Open winner.

Asked about the negative energy of the group that also included Justin Rose, the victim of McIlroy’s playoff victory at Augusta, Lowry alluded to McIlroy’s play, saying, “You look at, like Rory’s finished on six over. It’s not like two 73s [Rory went 74-72] out there … it’s not bad golf. It’s so hard.”

It’s not fair to speculate on what’s going on with the No. 2 golfer in the world away from the golf course, but we know what’s happening on it.

His disgusted overhand club toss on the par-5 12th hole after pulling an approach into the rough well short of the green makes him 2-for-2 in that department, having also pitched a club at the PGA—though, notably, with a less elan than his effort at Oakmont.

Later, at the drivable par-4 17th, McIlroy sent his fairway metal tee shot left of the putting surface and angrily spun around and splintered the white tee marker on the left side of the teeing ground.

His suddenly taciturn behaviour after play—including his two rounds at the Canadian Open—defies explanation. Said one observer who watched McIlroy hurry past the media and up the stairs to Oakmont’s storied clubhouse, “This is the strangest turn of events.”

Another curious move was his decision to skip the Memorial Tournament, hosted by Jack Nicklaus, whom has been a friend and a mentor and offered sage advice in the days leading up to McIlroy’s conquering moment on the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club. Also, the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland never gave Nicklaus the courtesy of letting him know he would not be in attendance at Muirfield Village Golf Club in suburban Columbus, Ohio.

These are not the exemplary actions of one of golf’s biggest stars, a veteran player who has been a flag bearer for the PGA Tour, who is rock-solid, certain-as-death-and-taxes pick for the Hall of Fame with his five majors and 40 combined career wins.

The past two months could have been a sweet honeymoon period for McIlroy after such a scintillating and inspiring Masters victory, the win he had been dreaming of nearly his whole life. For some reason, he is choosing to miss out on what should be a golden moment in his life and career.

It’s odd and perplexing and actually quite sad.