McIlroy coming to grips with the realisation this is no video game

US OPEN: PHILIP REIDgets the views of the young star about a course he's often torn apart – virtually

ON MONDAY morning, Rory McIlroy got acquainted with the Pebble Beach links for real. In the past, his only contact had come by playing it on PlayStation – often shooting rounds in the 50s as he aggressively went for the par fives in two every time. But, in the flesh, he has discovered it to be a very different beast. It’s the real deal, and he likes it.

What’s more, the 21-year-old Ulsterman has been handed what he calls “a dream group” for the opening rounds, playing alongside Tom Watson, the winner here in 1972, and Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa.

“I’m sure Tom will be feeling pretty old on the first tee, playing with myself and Ryo. I think it will be a great three-ball.

“I’m really excited about playing with Tom. He’s won around here and I might pick up a few things the first two days that I can bring into the weekend. You never know.”

A year on from a top-10 finish in his debut appearance in the US Open at Bethpage, McIlroy is no longer coming in under the radar. He is in the full glare of the spotlight, especially after the manner of his maiden PGA Tour win at Quail Hollow last month. But he has attempted to play down expectations.

Asked how close in his career he was to winning a major, McIlroy responded: “I would probably be more comfortable answering that question if I had a few more wins under my belt. Obviously, I’ve got to be going into this tournament thinking that I can win, that I have a chance to win. And I feel my game’s in pretty good shape so, if I can get into position going into the weekend, I should have a good chance.

“Maybe in a couple of years, I’ll hopefully be a bit more advanced in my career to say, ‘yeah, I think it’s time that I’m ready to win a major’.”

McIlroy’s form since Quail Hollow has seen him come back down to earth with a missed cut at the Players championship before a run of tied-48th, tied-10th, tied-29th in the European PGA, the Memorial and the St Jude respectively. The signs, though, are there to suggest that he is hitting the ball well, and that his back is behaving itself.

“I think it’s started to clear up since I started playing better,” said McIlroy, adding: “I went for a scan a couple of weeks ago and the stress levels have gone down on it. It is not completely 100 per cent, and it will probably take another two or three months, but it is definitely a lot better. I can’t feel it whenever I swing now, although I’m still getting physio on it after I play.”

McIlroy, with three practice sessions behind him, has a pep in his step heading into the major. “I feel that win at Quail Hollow was a big confidence boost. It’s made me feel I belong out here and that I can win a big tournament against a strong field. It gives me belief to know that if I am ever in position again against that calibre of player that I have done it before and I will be able to do it again.”