Rory McIlroy was pleased to “minimise mistakes” in tough conditions on day one in the US Open.
Shinnecock Hills had its challenges for players, with the greens moving fast and the wind blowing fiercely, making play considerably difficult.
Speaking after his round of 69, McIlroy said: “With the conditions today, anything under par or anything around even par is a good score.
“It was a day to really just keep yourself in the tournament and not shoot yourself out of it, which is exactly what I did eight years ago here.
“So I sort of went out with the mindset that pars were going to be good, and if you could pick up a couple of birdies here and there, that’s always a bonus.
“But really just minimising the mistakes. I did that for the most part today.
“I didn’t feel like I hit two bad iron shots on the last two holes (but) I put myself in pretty difficult spots and wasn’t able to get it up and down.”
The Northern Irishman was joined by fellow Europeans Ludwig Aberg, who also shot a round of 69, and Tommy Fleetwood, who finished on level par.
Rory McIlroy shot a round of 69
|
REUTERS
Fleetwood complimented his playing partners, saying: “I think we had a good group today.
“The round started to get away from me a little bit when I made the turn, made two poor three-putts.
“But I think sometimes it almost helps when you’ve got two guys going really well. Not that they can kind of drag you up.
“If you’re struggling, it gives you a false reflection of maybe what’s going on. Those two were having two of the best rounds of the day. So it kind of helps you in a way. It kind of drags you a little bit.”
Tommy Fleetwood praised his playing partners
|
REUTERS
Fleetwood continued: “Other than that, it’s hard. Just watching how shots react, particularly like putts. It’s so windy out there.
“The job is never done even when you hit the green.
“It’s like constant. Like you are watching them just to kind of get some kind of feel or read on the putt.”
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler, who struggled at times in round one, believes that opening day scores will be high.
Tommy Fleetwood finished on level par after round one
|
REUTERS
He said: “Any time you get conditions like this, I think the scores are going to be high.
“I think that it’s an interesting golf course. Part of the challenge so far is judging the conditions as well, judging how this course is going to play.
“I feel like this course can change pretty rapidly from day to day. I think that’s also part of the challenge of the tournament is adjusting to those conditions.”
