U.S. Open News and Notes: June 20, 2011
One for the Record Books
It's Rory time—Rory McIlroy set more records then anyone could have imagined by capturing the U.S. Open by 8 strokes at Congressional Country Club on Sunday.
More impressively some of those records were held by a man named Tiger Woods. The same Tiger that McIllroy, as an 8-year-old kid back in Northern Ireland, watched capture his first major.
Here is a glimpse of the records he set this week:
- Rory McIlroy's total of 268 strokes breaks the 72-hole U.S. Open scoring record of 272 previously held by four players—Jack Nicklaus, 1980; Lee Janzen, 1993; Tiger Woods, 2000; Jim Furyk, 2003.
- Rory McIlroy's total of 16 under par breaks the 72-hole U.S. Open record for most strokes under par. Tiger Woods set the previous record of 12-under in 2000.
- At 22 years, 1 month, 15 days, Rory McIlroy is the youngest U.S. Open champion since Bob Jones, 1923, at 21 years, 3 months, 28 days. He is also the second-youngest player to win a major championship in past 80 years behind Tiger Woods, who was 21 years, 3 months, 15 days when he won the 1997 Masters.
- Rory McIlroy became the fourth player in U.S. Open history to shoot four rounds in the 60s, joining Lee Janzen, 1993; Lee Trevino, 1968; Billy Casper, 1966 (including one round in playoff).
- Rory McIlroy is the seventh start-to-finish winner (no ties) in U.S. Open history, joining Walter Hagen, 1914; Jim Barnes, 1921; Ben Hogan, 1953; Tony Jacklin, 1970; Tiger Woods, 2000 and 2002.
- Rory McIlroy hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, the most in a U.S. Open since the statistic has been tracked.
- Rory McIlroy is the first player in U.S. Open history to reach 13-under-par, 14-under-par, 15-under-par, 16-under-par and 17-under-par.
Few Americans
The Americans were few and far between this week in the nations capital. Only Robert Garrigus and Kevin Chappel, tied for third, found their way into the top-10 at Congressional.
Steve Stricker, the highest ranked American in the world, finished 19th, and Phil Mickelson 54th.
New Day
Jason Day has finished second in consecutive majors. He finished tied with Adam Scott at the Masters in April and then had a solid weekend of 65-68 to garner a runner-up finish at the U.S. Open.
