Rory McIlroy Shares Caddie Joke After Tough Round at US Open

Rory McIlroy faced challenging conditions during his second round at the US Open held at Shinnecock Hills. Despite a commendable start, finishing the front nine at three-under par and tied for second, his game took a downturn on the back nine. After a mishap with a wedge shot on the 10th hole, he went on to make three consecutive bogeys, ultimately concluding the day at even par.

After his round, McIlroy lightened the mood by sharing a joke with his caddie, Harry Diamond, while on the 13th fairway. Through 36 holes, the six-time major champion found himself seven strokes behind the leader, Wyndham Clark, but only three shots adrift of second place. McIlroy reflected on his performance, saying, “I just kept hitting it long... There was a lot of holes where it was mostly off the left or the right but if you got a switch one way or the other it made a huge difference.”

Despite the difficulties, McIlroy remained optimistic, noting that his even par score was commendable given the tough conditions he faced. He acknowledged that while he made some mistakes, he “hung in there as best I could” and was prepared to tackle the next round with determination.

On the 13th hole, McIlroy finally broke his streak of bogeys with an impressive wedge shot that landed just inches from the pin. He humorously told Diamond, “I joked to Harry it was straight back into wind this one and I said at least there’s no chance of it going long this time.” This successful shot helped him regain momentum as he aimed to improve his standing.

McIlroy's even par score may not reflect the full story, as he dealt with the most challenging weather conditions. Having played in the toughest winds during his morning round on Thursday, he now looks forward to potentially favorable conditions in the upcoming rounds.