Rory McIlroy enjoys positive start to US Open

The United States Golf Association has come in for severe criticism in recent years for its course set-up, but McIlroy was among the early starters who made the most of ideal conditions while they could.

A three-under-par 67 left McIlroy two shots off the clubhouse lead held by Justin Thomas, with Patrick Reed on four under following a 66 aided by a hole-in-one on the seventh.

McIlroy had spoken about the need for a good opening round as he looks to claim a first major title since the 2014 US PGA Championship. In his last eight major starts, the former world number one was a total of 16 over par in the first round, compared to a combined 23 under in rounds two, three and four.

“First round of a major you’re always anxious to play well and maybe I’ve overthought it at times,” McIlroy said after his lowest opening round in the US Open since 2011, where he went on to win. “I just went out today and just took what was given to me a little more relaxed and played really nicely.

“I think at a US Open if you can get off to a good start, you’re not chasing as much. And when you chase on US Open golf courses, that’s when you can start to make mistakes and compound your errors.

“Some courses you show up, you don’t really have to work that hard for a 67, where here you do. So it’s a little more gratifying.”

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