RORY McILROY had the perfect strategy to relax ahead of the biggest weekend of his golfing career, as he sought to turn his midway lead in the 111th US Open championship at the Congressional Country Club into a maiden major victory: he planned to watch a showing of the movie Hangover II.
McIlroy (22), from Holywood, Co Down, yesterday set a new record low for 36 holes in the history of the golf tournament when he shot a second round 66 for a midway total of 131, 11 under par. It left him perfectly positioned to gain a measure of redemption for his failure to claim the season’s first major, the US Masters, in April.
“It’s been two very, very good days of golf and I have put myself in a great position going into the weekend, but I know more than probably anyone else what can happen,” McIlroy said, referring to his final round collapse at Augusta National where he held a four-stroke lead only to close with an 80 and see the title claimed by South African Charl Schwartzel. “So I’ve got to stay really focused and try and finish this thing off.”
McIlroy will be seeking to become just the fourth Irish golfer to win a major. Fred Daly won the British Open in 1947; Pádraig Harrington has claimed three titles (British Open 2007 and 2008 and US PGA 2008), while Graeme McDowell captured last year’s US Open at Pebble Beach.
Asked if McDowell’s ability to win last year would give him added confidence, McIlroy replied: “It definitely gives me added incentive, it would be nice to follow in his footsteps. I was very happy for him last year and it’s nice to have a chance going into the weekend to win the trophy that he won last year.”
And he was hoping that a screening of the comedy would have him in just the right frame of mind to accomplish that aim.