Rory McIlroy has once again adopted the preparation tactics that led to his Masters victory, scouting the US Open course at Shinnecock Hills ahead of the tournament later this month. The 37-year-old Northern Irishman, who secured his sixth major title in April, visited the venue earlier this week to familiarise himself with the layout.
McIlroy’s pre-Masters preparation sparked debate after he spent time practising at Augusta National while recovering from a back injury, a move he described as giving him an edge. Despite criticism, he has repeated the approach for the US Open, noting that the fairways at Shinnecock Hills are more generous than in 2018 but the rough is five inches long.
“The greens are rolling around 11, 11.2, something like that and I really don’t think they need to get much faster,” McIlroy said. He added that keeping the greens at that speed would allow for firm conditions without the struggles seen at recent US Opens.
McIlroy is currently competing at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, his only event before the US Open, following a selective schedule this year. He defended his approach, stating that he has been on tour for over half his life and chooses his spots to maintain balance. “Does it mean it makes it harder for myself to win the FedEx Cup? Absolutely. But I’m OK with that because it brings balance to my life,” he explained.
After two rounds at the Memorial, McIlroy shares 19th place on one over par, while JT Poston leads by one stroke on nine under. The winner will receive £3 million.
