Sixteen months ago, Rory McIlroy imploded on the back nine at Augusta National during the Masters, one of golf’s majors. He chalked up the disaster that it was to a learning experience.

Two months later he ran away with with the second major of the year, the US Open at Congressional Country Club. He shot -16 and won the tournament by 8 shots.

Sunday, McIlroy again won a major championship by 8 shots, this time shooting 13 under par and winning the PGA Championshp at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course. His Sunday round of 66 was played bogey free, a miraculous feat for anyone playing on a Sunday in a major championship.

Rory joins this year’s major champions Bubba Watson (Masters), Webb Simpson (US Open) and Ernie Els (British Open) and is the first person to win multiple major championships in the last 16 attempts (4 years).

Some quotes from his post round presser:

“I got here Monday afternoon. I looked out the window and though, ‘Something about this place just feels right.’”

“The failure at Augusta (last year) has helped me learn so much more than the win at Congressional.”

“I didn’t think about it until 18. Then I allowed myself to realize I was going to win and I just enjoyed the moment.”

Enjoy the moment, Rory! What an exciting end to the major championship season!

Next up, the Ryder Cup!

Moving Day of a golf tournament can be a fun and joyous occasion or a bittersweet ending—Day 3 at the Masters had both as it should.

Bittersweet Moment #1: Rory McIlroy

The kid so many people wanted to see win a Green Jacket after last year’s meltdown on the back nine shot a 5 over par, 77 today. He nearly holed out on the 18^th hole from the fairway, leaving a tap in putt—he held his putter like Happy Gilmore to tap the ball in for birdie—showing he maintained his sense of humor through a difficult day of golf.

He shot 42 on the front nine…

Bittersweet Moment #2: Sergio Garcia

McIlroy was paired with Sergio Garcia. They were interviewed together after the round and Sergio said something about their bad holes were very bad and even their good holes were bad. Neither one could get anything going.

At one point, they both birdied the par 3, 12^th hole. Sergio walked over to Rory on the green and they exchanged a big hug. Laughing about it was all either could do to maintain their sanity!

Sergio shot a +3, 75 to be one under for the tournament and in a tie for 19^th.

Bittersweet Moment #3: Freddie Couples

Freddie fought back, but was unable to keep his Masters magic working. He started his round bogey, bogey and then double bogeyed the 5^th hole. Digging himself out of a +4 start is difficult, but Freddie buckled down and birdied 8, 11, and 12 before he struggled again on 15 and 16. He shot 3 over, 75 and sits in a tie for 11^th place at 2 under par for the tournament.

Joyous Occasion #1: Phil Mickelson

Phil shot 30 on the back nine for a 6 under par, 66. If you look at Phil Mickelson’s scorecard, see below (photo is not currently linking), you will see a lot of blue. Blue is good for this particular scorecard on PGATour.com. It means he’s birding holes and the darker blue means he made an eagle.

Phil started off shooting even par on the front nine. Going birdie, par, birdie, eagle to start off the back nine will send the crowds cheering at Augusta and the roars will be heard throughout the golf course. He even birdied the 18^th hole for the third time this Masters!

Phil is on a roll…watch out!

Joyous Occasion #2: Peter Hanson

From the replays I saw of Hanson’s round, he had at least three approach shots that were inside of 5 feet from the pin, two of those were inside of three feet. When you’re striking the ball that well at Augusta, magic can happen and he shot the best round of the tournament so far, a 7 under par 65 to give himself a one shot lead going into the final day.

He birdied five of his last 7 holes…amazing when you think of the holes he played and how the pressure only builds in golf tournaments.

The only blemish on his scorecard came on the first hole which he bogeyed. He went on to birdie the following hole, nice bounce back!

Joyous Occasion #3: Bubba Watson

Bubba has a lot to be thankful for this Easter. He and his wife Angie are new parents to one month old Caleb.

He shot a 2 under par 70 today, including a 7-8 foot birdie putt on 18 to put himself within three shots of Hanson and set himself up for a chance on Sunday.

This could be Bubba’s turn at a Major Championship…

He said, “It’s going to be a tough challenge, but I have a chance.”

A chance you do, Bubba. Good luck!

What’s going to happen?

Over the last 21 years, the Masters Champion has come from the final group 19 times. This means there is a fairly good chance that either Peter Hanson or Phil Mickelson could be presented with Green Jackets at the end of the day. If Phil wins, this will be Masters win number 4.

It’s going to be quite the battle to the finish. The golf course will not be set up in a friendly way on Sunday. Look for the pins to be in their usual Sunday location. The course is firming up a bit.

Leaderboard After Day 3

Melissa writes about golf and the University of Michigan hockey team. Check out her site here for follow her on Twitter @TheYostPost.

Round One Pin Placements from Graeme McDowell's Twitter

There’s an old saying: You can’t win the golf tournament on Thursday, but you can lose it.

The first day of the 2012 Masters in the books and what an entertaining first round it was. There were 28 rounds of golf shot under par (72), 16 players shot even par, and 2 amateurs were in red numbers. Not a bad start…

The players had been making statements that the course was playing soft because of all the rain on Wednesday. The greenskeeper at the Masters must have taken it to heart, because the pin placements where not where you’d normally see them on a Thursday. Some pins were tucked in positions meant for a Saturday while others were placed on top of hills—meaning if you are not perfect on your putt, it’s not going to get any easier. The pros prepare themselves for the greens at Augusta National by putting on concrete—and no I’m not joking.

Swede Henrik Stenson eagled both par 5’s on the front nine, finishing the nine at 5 under par. He proceeded to birdie 11 before going bogey, birdie, bogey on 14-16 before quadruple bogeying 18 to finish his round in a tie for 15^th at 1 under par, 71. He got stuck in the pine straw off his tee shot, then flew the green into the stands on his fourth shot and couldn’t put the ball on the green with his fifth. It was literally a top 10 golfers worst nightmare hole for Stenson.

Phil Mickelson also had a rough time, he triple bogeyed the 10^th hole en route to a +2, 74.

Said Phil in interviews:

“I missed the ball in the wrong spots. My short game didn’t save me. I hit a horrific drive on 10 and made triple. I’m only 2 over. If I can get hot tomorrow, and I know I’m playing well enough to shoot to shoot 6 or 7 under, if I can go do that the putter feels great…if I can get a hot round tomorrow I will be right in it for the weekend.”

Phil put a drive left and hit a provisional on hole 10. When asked about it Phil explained the following:

“Tarzanish, hoofing through the jungle. I’ve never lost a ball at the Masters besides the water. That ball was so far left. It was a poor swing. Again, I missed it in the wrong spot. I made a lot of mistakes, but I’m only 2 over. “

Englishman Lee Westwood leads the tournament with a 5 under par, 67 showing. He was on a 4 hole birdie train on the front nine (holes 5-8).

“My ball striking was very good, has been all year. I’ve worked hard on my short game. I rolled in putts I needed to make,” said Westwood in his interview.

He’s never won a major, but has won multiple times on the European Tour (21) and twice on the PGA Tour. “There’s as much tension and pressure as you make it,” he said.

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy didn’t seem to have any of the trouble on hole number 10 that he had on Sunday last year.

“I wasn’t going left, that’s for sure,” he declared in an interview.

He didn’t go left and parred the hole. He was very happy with his finish, birdie, birdie on 17 and 18 to shoot -1, 71 and put himself in a tie for 15^th (along with Stenson).

So how did my other picks do?

Keegan Bradley also finished at -1, 71. He didn’t start off his first round at Augusta too well. He doubled hole number 1. I’m not sure if it was nerves or mistakes that caused the poor shots, but he was able to bring it back. He followed up his double with a birdie on two, what a way to shake off the nerves! He also played Amen Corner 2 under par—a pretty amazing feat—before bogeying 18 to finish his round.

Luke Donald went bogey, birdie to start his round and found himself shooting a +3, 75 to be in a tie for 64^th.

Hunter Mahan shot even par 72 for a tie for 30^th. He is tied with Tiger Woods.

Tiger found himself in some trouble and for the most part was able to get out of it making up and downs. He did finish poorly, bogeying both 17 and 18 to ruin his under par round.

So what’s going to happen tomorrow?

I’m curious to see the pin placements. I’m also curious to see what the weather is going to do.

Top 10 after Day 1

It’s Masters Week! Golf’s first major is upon us; the Green Jacket and all that comes with winning it.

Those of you who are golf fans know how important of a week this is. It is the most sought after invitation a golfer can receive—ask Ernie Els. For the first time since 1994 he failed to secure one. He finished second at Augusta twice, but never winning the tournament means he doesn’t have a guaranteed invitation to play in the tournament for as long as he chooses.

So how does a golfer get invited to play in the Masters? There are 19 different ways.

From the Master’s website:

1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime)
2. US Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
3. British Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
4. PGA Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
5. Winners of The Players Championship (Three years)
6. Current US Amateur Champion (6-A) (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year) and the runner-up (6-B) to the current US Amateur Champion
7. Current British Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year)
8. Current Asian Amateur Champion
9. Current US Amateur Public Links Champion
10. Current US Mid-Amateur Champion
11. The first 16 players, including ties, in the previous year’s Masters Tournament
12. The first 8 players, including ties, in the previous year’s US Open Championship
13. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s British Open Championship
14. The first 4 players, including ties, in the previous year’s PGA Championship
15. The 30 leaders on the Final Official PGA Tour Money List for the previous calendar year
16. Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship, from previous Masters to current Masters
17. Those qualifying for the previous year’s season-ending Tour Championship
18. The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking for the previous calendar year
19. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters Tournament

Last year, University of Michigan senior golf team captain Lion Kim was among those who received an invitation after winning the US Amateur Public Links Tournament.

Not only is it the most sought after invitation, but It’s one of the hardest tickets in sports to get–tickets themselves are not expensive, but so hard to come by that they are sold to the highest bidder if one is unable to secure them through a lottery–but once you walk through the entryway at Augusta, you are treated to the lowest prices you will see in a professional sporting event.

That 1% that the media is always talking about has worked hard at keeping the prices for the event at a reasonable price.

My Dad was lucky enough to get tickets to a practice round a couple of years ago. He said he could walk around and purchase a pop and a sandwich for a whopping $1.50 a piece. Pop at a University of Michigan football game begins at $3.50 and goes up to around $7. You’d like a sandwich? You’re not going to find anything under $5, except candy. Popcorn isn’t even that cheap and this is a college event, not a Major on the PGA Tour.

These prices extend to the gift shop. It’s not uncommon for people to walk in empty handed and walk out with more bags than they can carry.

It’s a special week meant to be spent with your loved ones watching golf’s most prestigious tournament, not spending your hard earned money being price gauged by the people putting on the event. That’s not the Masters way.

Whose Tournament Is It?

World Number 1, Luke Donald is being looked at as an early favorite. Luke has played exceptional golf over the last year winning 2 tournaments in 2011 in the European Tour, 1 tournament on the PGA Tour and the 2011 WGC—Match Play Championship. This year he’s already won the Transitions Championship on the PGA Tour. His top finish in the Masters was in 2005 when he finished tied for 3^rd. Last year he finished tied for 4^th.

World Number 2, Rory McIlroy is also another favorite. Last year Rory was winning the golf tournament until he fell apart beginning on the 10^th hole, Sunday shooting a final round 80. Last year, McIlroy came back to win the 2011 U.S. Open and this year has won The Honda Classic. He has experience that no golfer ever wants to go through. He’s also striking the ball exceptionally well.

After winning for the first time in three years two weeks ago, Tiger Woods is back on everyone’s minds as he plays for his 5^th Green Jacket. In order for me to believe that Tiger is back in form, he is going to have to win a handful of tournaments and bring fear into the eyes of his opponents—they now all see him as beatable. Augusta is his favorite course and the one he most hopes to win. He has frequently said that he only enters tournaments if he believes he can win, otherwise, what’s the point of playing?

Hunter Mahan won last week’s Shell Houston Open, his second victory this year after defeating Rory McIlroy in the final round of the WGC Match Play Championship. He also receives swing instruction from Sean Foley. Other Foley students include Tiger and Sean O’Hair.

Keegan Bradley, winner of last year’s final Major, the PGA Championship. He was 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. He played himself into a 3-way playoff earlier this year at the Northern Trust Open with Bill Haas and Phil Mickelson. Haas won with a birdie on the second playoff hole. This will be his first trip to Augusta. The PGA Championship last year was his first Major Championship.

Dustin Johnson withdrew early on Tuesday after tweaking his back.

Here’s to another wonderful week of golf at Augusta National. Do all of the patrons and players, enjoy your time there. It truly is a treat.

Melissa writes about golf and the University of Michigan hockey team. Click here for The Yost Post or follow her on twitter @TheYostPost.

Earlier today it was announced that golfer Rory McIlroy is splitting from the management company he’s been with for the last four years, International Sports Management.

I’m always intrigued when athletes decide to go separate ways from their managers/agents/etc. I want to know what happened. Was there an argument? Just a change in ideals? Perhaps an offer the athlete couldn’t refuse?

Whatever it is, at this point it’s not overly difficult to give McIlroy the benefit of the doubt. He’s young, yet he’s been doing this whole golf thing for a while. I’m sure he has his reasons, and I can’t imagine that this will have a negative impact on his game in the future.

But still, doesn’t it make you curious?

I woke up at 4:30 am Friday morning and couldn’t fall back to sleep! Why did I wake up? Probably because my body wanted me to watch the British Open, Day 2…so at 4:30 am I turned it on!

I saw magic!  Could have been because Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 came out at Midnight—no, I did not see the movie last night! But I will—big Harry Potter fan!

What I did see was sixty-one year old, five time British Open Champion make a hole in one on the sixth hole. Waston used a 4 iron on the 178 yard hole, straight into the win. The ball bounced once on the green and slam dunked into the cup! Watson raised his hands in the air, shook hands with his playing partners, and bowed for the crowd. It was one of those special moments you know you’ll never forget.

What else happened on “Cut Day”? It wasn’t magic for everyone on the golf course…

Phil Mickelson was feeling it though. He paired his round of even par 70 yesterday with a -1 under, 69 today to sit 3 behind the leaders at -4. Mickelson has only contended in one British Open…ever! In 17 years he has one top 10 finish (2004). His Wikipedia page says he’s ranged from T-24 to 79^th place and been cut three times.

From ESPN.com:

“I will say this,” said his longtime caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, “today’s round … from a ball-striking standpoint, was one of the very best rounds I’ve ever seen him have. Ever seen.”

“I just wanted to start fresh because I’ve loved links golf,” Mickelson said. “I just had to really enjoy the challenge of it more. … I just think this is really a fun way to play golf, and I wanted to have kind of a fresh start.”

Pretty amazing he can love something that hasn’t loved him back…ever!

First day co-leader and amateur Tom Lewis finished with a 4 over par, 74 and is T14 at -1. He started off playing par golf before a bad bounce on a good drive left him in a bunker. He clipped the lip of the bunker trying to hit it out and subsequently bogeyed the hole. His only birdie of the round came on the par 4, 13^th hole—he bogeyed that hole on Thursday.

Thomas Bjorn, the other co-leader from day one, shot 2 over, 72 and is tied for third at -3. He went on a bogey spree on holes 2, 3, and 4 before birdying the 5^th, 7^th and 10^th holes. In case you were wondering, he pared the dreaded par 3, 16^th hole that gave him so much trouble back in 2003.

2010 U.S. Open Champion Graeme McDowell was not feeling the magic. He followed up his -2, 68 with a 7 over, 77 finishing at T87 with +5, and missed the cut.

From opengolf.com:

“I couldn’t really put my finger on anything that was really bad today. I just drove it average, hit my irons average, everything was average. My attitude has been pretty average the last two days as well. I just do not have a lot of belief in myself at the moment. It’s just a bit of a confidence issue. I just can’t seem to string four rounds together and this week I couldn’t even string two together.”

“I was frustrated today,” he added. “Frustrated and disappointed. I guess those are the two words that are creeping into my game at the moment. I don’t have any patience in myself. Maybe I’m expecting a bit to much of myself.”

Another Northern Irishman is being talked about this week (besides Rory McIlroy or Graeme McDowell. Darren Clarke is tied for first place with American Lucas Glover (2009 U.S. Open Champion) after putting two rounds of 68 together. Clarke felt the magic on the par 5, 7^th hole when he rolled in a 90 foot eagle putt. He had previously double bogeyed the 4^th hole.

The cut was +4.

Notables missing the cut: Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Nick Watney, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Matt Kuchar, Ryo Ishikawa

We’ll see who keep the magic over the weekend…or maybe spark some of their own!

Notables:
T14) Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson -1
T19) Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy E
T45) Tom Watson and Ricky Barnes +2

Date: Thursday, July 14-Sunday, July 17
Location: Sandwich, England at the Royal St. George’s Course
Par: 70
Yardage: 7,211 yards

2010 Champion: Louis Oosthuizen

Have you ever heard of him? Probably not, unless you’re an avid golf fan. He’s from South Africa and won the African Open this past January. He has not won an event on the PGA Tour.

Favorites (Who’s Hot): Both Steve Stricker and Luke Donald (world #1) are coming off of wins.

Stricker won the John Deere Classic for the third time in three years!  Stricker has never won a major championship, but did win the Memorial Tournament earlier this year. Stricker finished T-11 at the Masters and T-19 at the U.S. Open.

Donald won the Barclay’s Scottish Open by 4 shots. On his way to becoming World #1 this year, he won the World Golf Championship-Accenture Match Play Championship and the BMW PGA Championship. He finished T-4 in the Masters this year and T-45 at the U.S. Open.

Rory McIlroy is also a favorite. He is the 2011 U.S. Open Champion and has led the field 7 out of 8 rounds of golf during major championships this year.

Noteables:

Phil Mickelson: He hasn’t finished higher than a tie for 19^th since the 2004 British Open. It’s never been his tournament. Don’t expect that to change.

Tiger Woods: He’s not playing—still out with injuries.

Lee Westwood: The Englishman would like to pick up his first major championship; especially in his home country!

Sergio Garcia: Which Sergio will we get this week? I’m hoping the new Sergio—controlled and even tempered, is here to stay! Good luck Sergio!!

History:

The British Open has been at Royal St. George’s nine other times: 1922, 1928, 1934, 1938, 1949, 1981, 1985, 1993, and 2003.

The Open Championship is the oldest of the four majors. It began in 1860. It takes place at one of nine links course, rotating every year, in England or Scotland.

Old Course at St. Anderws, Carnoustie Golf Links, Muirfield, The Turnberry Resort, Royal Troon Golf Club, Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Ladies and Gentleman, your 2011 U.S. Open Champion, from Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy. This is the second winner in a row from Northern Ireland, and the fifth straight non-American to win a Major Championship.

Rory led the tournament thru all 72 holes. He finished with a 2 under par 69 for an 8 shot win and a total of -16 under par. He set a record for lowest 72 hole total at 268 strokes.

Teeing off on hole #1, Rory looked calm and composed. I counted him using his driver twice the entire round, mostly opting to take 3-wood off the tee. For the most part he kept the ball in the fairway and out of trouble.

Hole #10 became a turning point for Rory. On the par 3, he hit his tee shot to about 6 feet behind the pin which then took the hill down to the hole and stopped short 4 inches. Nearly a hole in one!

During the trophy presentation he was asked, “Can you play any better than this?”

His response with a smile was, “I could have holed a couple more putts today!”

His response to that question is one of the reasons he won this tournament. He took it one shot at a time and didn’t get too far ahead of himself. He has a great sense of humor and a caddy who helped keep him relaxed throughout the tournament.

“That was the point in the round that I felt it was mine to lose even though I had gone out with a big lead .”

Rory walked off 18 into his father Jerry’s arms. He was also met with a hug and congratulations from fellow countryman and 2010 U.S. Open Champion Graeme McDowell. The two are very good friends who spend a lot of time on tour together.

Rory set many records this week at Congressional Country Club:

• He is the youngest U.S. Open champion since World War Two at 22 years and 46 days.
• Third player in U.S. Open history to shoot all 4 rounds in the 60s.
• Fastest to double-digits under par (26 holes)
• Low first 36 holes (131)
• Most strokes under par 36 holes (-11)
• Largest 36 hole lead (6 strokes)
• Low first 54 holes (199)
• Most strokes under par 54 holes (-14)
• Lowest 72 hole total (268)

After moving day yesterday, there were a handful of guys fighting for second place. Jason Day came out on top with a -3 under performance for an 8 under total for the tournament. Jason struggled throughout the round from tee to green, but his putting kept him in the hunt. I haven’t seen someone take so much time or back away from putts to relook at the line before stroking the ball.

Swede Fredrik Jacobson, had a lovely 3 under performance on the front 9 Sunday. He was making everything from 15 feet and in on the putting green. Starting on hole 10, he suffered a bogey, and then 4 putted hole #12 for a double bogey. He made two more bogeys on his round and took himself out of contention for 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th place. He ended with a T14 finish.

Robert Garrigus completed a great week shooting all 4 rounds under par. He finished with a -1, 70 and tied for third with a -6 total.

Overall, there were 20 players who played the 72 holes under par for the week. The record of 28 players was set at Medinah Country Club in 1990. To have 20 players under par for the tournament is largely unheard of. Last year, Graeme McDowell won with a 72 hole total of even par!

Final Results

1) Rory McIlroy            -16
2) Jason Day                   -8
T3) Kevin Chappell        -6
T3) Robert Garrigus      -6
T3) Lee Westwood        -6
T3) Y.E. Yang                   -6
T7) Peter Hanson           -5
T7) Sergio Garcia           -5
T9) Charl Schwartzel     -4
T9) Louis Oosthuizen    -4

Noteables

T14) Graeme McDowell  -2
T19) Steve Stricker           -1
T45) Luke Donald              +5
T54) Phil Mickelson         +7

Friday’s round 2 of the 111^th U.S. Open Championship finished with a rain delay. Some players did not finish, and it left the USGA (United States Golf Association, who puts on the event) holding their breath. After all, the greens are supposed to be incredibly fast and unresponsive for the players during the U.S. Open.

With the rain that fell on Friday and overnight, all the players and the USGA knew they were going to have a golf course for the taking. It was just a matter of who would decide to attack the pins and who would make the birdie putts.

There were several nice scores on moving day, Saturday.

Jason Day and Lee Westwood had the rounds of the day with -6 under, 65. Day had a bogey free round and Westwood had 1 bogey, 1 eagle, and 5 birdies.

Fredrik Jacobson had a great round as well finishing with a -5, 66. His only bogey came on 13.

There were also a few not so nice scores on moving day! Phil Mickelson would fall into this group. Phil was 7 over on the back nine and finished with 7 over for the day. He had back to back double bogeys on 16 and 17.

On a more positive note, Rory McIlory stole the show once again. The golf game he brought today left me clapping on the couch and chanting “Let’s go Rory! Clap clap clap clap clap” along with the crowd!

Rory did a great job playing smart, relaxed golf throughout his round. The announcers, specifically Johnny Miller, kept saying over and over again that when he gets nervous he hits a pull-hook like he did on Sunday at Augusta where he shot a final round 80! A few tee shots on Saturday went a bit left, although they looked far more like he was drawing the ball rather than missing it with a pull-hook. Still, the announcers kept reminding us over and over.

In the mean time, Rory looked poised and comfortable on his walk in between shots. Often when he would finish a hole he would toss a ball to a child close to the green. Sometimes he would act like he was going to toss the ball, then wait, then finally toss it, earning giggles from the child and he himself would join in on the fun. If that’s not behavior of someone who is completely in their element, I don’t know what is.

He broke another record. It took Rory 199 strokes to play 54 holes at this U.S. Open. That is a new record. Previously it had taken 200 strokes by Jim Furyk in 2003 at Olympia Fields to play 54 holes—and he ended up winning.

Rory’s partner on Saturday was Y.E. Yang, 2009 PGA Champion. Y.E. started out playing well then bogeyed the 2^nd hole. That would be the only blemish on his scorecard to a -1 finish and playing himself into the final group on Sunday.

Sunday is shaping up to be an amazing finish. Will Rory have what it takes to become the 6^th wire to wire winner of the U.S. Open?(Tiger Woods did it twice.) Will we see him and his father celebrating on the 18th green on Father’s Day? I hope so.

In the mean time, expect the course to bit a little less responsive to the player’s shots and the pin placements to be trickier. The greens keepers won’t be watering the greens this evening. There are, however, thunderstorms in the forecast. I make it a point to not believe it’s going to rain until it actually rains!

Get some sleep folks and tune in for a lovely Father’s Day at the U.S. Open!

Moving Day Scoreboard:

1)      Rory McIlroy           -14
2)      Y.E. Yang                   -6
T3) Jason Day                  -5
T3) Lee Westwood         -5
T3) Robert Garrigus       -5
T6) Fredrik Jacobson      -4
T6) Matt Kuchar             -4
T6) Sergio Garcia            -4
9) Kyung-Tae Kim           -3
T10) Bo Van Pelt             -2
T10) Henrik Stenson       -2
T10) Brandt Jobe             -2
T10) Davis Love III           -2
T10) Heath Slocum         -2

The following is meant to be completely humorous. Rory has a great sense of humor (he is mature enough that he would NEVER say something like this–I, on the other hand, am not!) and I’m trying to bring that to life with this fake letter to Congressional CC and the USGA. And a sort of kiss my butt attitude to everyone who thought he couldn’t come back from his awful Sunday at Augusta earlier this year.

Dear Congressional Country Club and the USGA,

My name is Rory McIlroy. I am here from Northern Ireland to put on a show that will cause your jaw to drop and give the U.S. Open Championship the second Northern Ireland winner in a row!

Your lengthy 7,600 yard golf course will be no match for me. 18 holes of challenges including very narrow fairways, very high rough and fast unresponsive greens played over 4 days will not stop me from becoming the first player ever to reach a double digits score under par thru 2 rounds (-11).

It will not stop me from becoming the clubhouse leader by 6 shots after 36 holes as of 4pm EST on Friday evening (weather delay in effect).

In fact, my 36 holes score of 11 under will be the lowest aggregate score ever (131) and it will be the lowest 36 hole score in relation to par ever as well!

I’m going to go out and shoot rounds of 65 and 66, where I will hit 9/14 fairways the first day and 11/14 fairways the second. My greens in regulation the first day will be close to perfect (17/18) and near perfect the second day (15/18).

Each of the first two days, I will have less than 30 putts (29 and 28).

How’s that for challenging your quick greens that you’ve tried to dry out so they were above a 14 on the stimpmeter? I know the thunderstorms on Thursday night didn’t help your cause, but it allowed me to attack the pin and even hole out on #8 for eagle. Thank you, golf Gods!

By the way, that shot on #8 was 114 yards. I was between my pitching wedge and sand wedge. I took a little something off the pitching wedge to put in on the back of the green and let the hill feed the ball back to the hole. I know it’s not Tiger Woods’ shot on 16 at Augusta a few years back, but I thought it was pretty cool!

I’m going to give you a gift and put my approach shot on #18 into the water just to give you some added suspense. Then once I double bogey 18 to finish my round at -6 under for the day, I’m going to toss another ball into the water just to show you how much it doesn’t bother me.

These will be the quotes I give to Bob Costas on Friday after my round before going to go see The Hangover 2 to I can chill out and relax before I play tomorrow: » Continue reading “Rory’s Letter to the USGA–US Open Round 2″