Sometimes golf feels less like a sport and more like a test of emotional endurance.
That was definitely the case for Rory McIlroy on Friday at the US Open.
Amid club-throwing, tee-marker smashing, and visible frustration, the world number two somehow managed to squeeze through to the weekend rounds—though it didn’t look likely for most of the day.
Not in the Mood, But Still in the Game
If you’ve watched McIlroy this week, it’s been obvious—he hasn’t looked happy out there.
Whether it’s the course, his swing, or just the vibe, something seems off.
On Friday, that frustration spilled out onto the course more than once, especially during the back nine where his emotions got the better of him.
Despite all that, McIlroy carded a round of 72, which put him at six-over-par—just inside the projected cut line.
Club Tossing and Broken Tee Markers
The pressure really started to show on the 12th hole.
After hooking a shot into thick rough on the par-five, McIlroy flung his iron down the fairway.
Ironically, the club flew straighter than his golf ball.
Then came the 17th hole, a short par-four.
He pulled out a three-wood, aimed for the green, and ended up in a greenside bunker.
The reaction? He took his frustration out on the tee marker, smashing it with his club. The tee marker didn’t survive.
A Glimmer of Redemption on the 18th
To his credit, McIlroy did manage to finish on a high.
He escaped the 17th with a par, then hit a solid approach on the final hole—landing just four feet from the pin—and rolled in a birdie.
It wasn’t enough to erase the struggles from earlier in the round, but it gave him just enough breathing room to play on through the weekend.
A Rough Start and Even Rougher Conditions
The round began in brutal fashion with a double-bogey on the first after a wayward drive landed in the sand.
Things didn’t get better on the third hole, where another visit to the bunker led to yet another double.
A couple of birdies at the ninth and 15th were the only moments of relief before that last gasp on the 18th.
Survival Mode at Oakmont
It’s not just McIlroy feeling the heat—Oakmont is chewing up and spitting out nearly everyone.
Aside from Sam Burns, who posted a brilliant 65 to lead at three-under, most players are barely hanging on.
JJ Spaun slipped from four-under to two-under with a 72.
Brooks Koepka dropped to two-over after carding a 74.
Viktor Hovland was one of the few to find momentum with a 68, putting him just one shot behind Burns.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau? He’s already out—after a painful 77 left him ten-over for the tournament.
The Field Is Struggling
Scottie Scheffler shot a 71 and now sits at four-over.
That included a brutal four-putt on the 17th. Jon Rahm matched that score with a 75, landing him in the same position.
Rahm’s temper boiled over, too—he missed six putts from five to ten feet, and it showed on his face and in his post-round comments.
“I’m too mad right now to even think straight,” Rahm admitted.
“I felt like I was making good strokes, but the ball just didn’t want to drop.”
Golfers Versus Oakmont: Who’s Winning?
Oakmont is known for being one of the toughest tracks in golf, and this year’s setup is testing every bit of patience the field has left.
Fast greens, tricky slopes, and rough so thick players are hacking sideways—it’s all part of the US Open tradition.
The line between a tough test and unfair conditions is getting blurry, though.
Even well-executed shots, like Rahm’s chip on 11 that refused to stop rolling, are getting punished harshly.
Scheffler and the Emotional Toll
After finishing his round, Scheffler admitted the obvious: “There were some times today where you feel like you could give up.”
Later, he was spotted at the range, visibly irritated and working through whatever was going on in his head—and his swing.
The mood around the course is heavy.
Players’ games—and patience—are being splintered, one tee shot at a time.