SB Nation Kansas City - U.S. Open 2011: Rory McIlroy Wins First Of Many Majorshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2011-06-19T20:04:48-05:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19928072011-06-19T20:04:48-05:002011-06-19T20:04:48-05:00U.S. Open 2011: Rory McIlroy Wins First Of Many Majors
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<p>Rory McIlroy's performance this past weekend at Congressional is something that any golf enthusiast will remember for a very long time. McIlroy shot the lowest total (16-under 268) in US Open History and broke the previous record held by Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus by four shots.</p>
<p>The 22-year old kid from North Ireland led the tournament from start to finish and won the championship by an astounding eight shots. It was the first major of his career.</p>
<p>This championship comes just two months after a collapse on Sunday at the Master's that saw McIlroy shoot an 80 with a 4-shot lead heading into Sunday. What was painfully difficult to watch in April was substantially easier to watch on Sunday. He started off his round with a birdie on the first hole and the crowd, and most people watching breathed a sigh of relief. People there did not want to see a repeat performance of the Masters.</p>
<p>But this was not the same player we saw just a few short months ago. He was confident, he was relaxed but most of all he was poised. The calm-during-the-storm attitude that McIlroy played with to not only win his first major in record-breaking fashion, but to do it with the weight of the Masters debacle makes this an all-time moment for not just McIlroy, but golf in general.</p>
<p>Golf needs a young superstar right now and McIlroy's humble persona, not to mention his ability, make him the perfect candidate to take this sport by storm over the next dozen years. Even some of the greats of the past and golf's current stars can't help but praise what he was able to accomplish this past weekend.</p>
<p><strong>Jack Nicklaus - via NBC.</strong></p>
<p>"I think this kid's going to have a great career. I don't think there's any question about it. He's got all the components."</p>
<p><strong>Luke Donald - World's current number one golfer.</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/usopen11/news/story?id=6678101">via ESPN.com</a></p>
<p>"As I've said before, I think he has probably the most talent I've ever seen from a golfer."</p>
<p><strong>Phil Mickelson</strong> - <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/usopen11/news/story?id=6678101">via ESPN.com</a>"</p>
<p>You can tell that Rory has had this type of talent in him for some time now, and to see him putting it together is pretty neat to see."</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2011/6/19/2232445/u-s-open-2011-rory-mcilroy-wins-first-of-many-majorsBJ Kissel2011-06-19T05:45:18-05:002011-06-19T05:45:18-05:002011 U.S. Open Leaderboard Results: Rory McIlroy Cruises Through Third Round
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<p>Another 18 holes are in the books and Irishman Rory McIlroy continues to establish U.S. Open records with his performance, setting the all-time low for 54 holes with a -14 under par overall score after going -3 on the day in round three. Apparently the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland holds no mystery for the 22-year-old as he's dusting the competition to the tune of an 8-stroke lead. <br><br>The rest of the field is packed tight as can be, ranging from Y.E. Yang currently sitting in second place at 6-under to 18 golfers remaining from 5-under to 1-under. In other words, after McIlroy, the competition is fierce for second place. Then again, despite the overwhelming performance thus far, McIlroy must have his doubters after his meltdown at the Masters in April. <br><br><b>U.S. Open Leaderboard Top 10:</b><br>1. Rory McIlroy, -14<br>2. Y.E. Yang, -6<br>3. Jason Day, -5<br>3. Lee Westwood, -5<br>3. Robert Garrigus, -5<br>6. Fredrik Jacobson, -4<br>6. Sergio Garcia, -4<br>6. Matt Kuchar, -4<br>9. Kyung-Tae Kim, -3<br>10. Bo Van Pelt, -2<br>10. Henrik Stanson, -2<br>10. Brandt Jobe, -2<br>10. Davis Love III, -2<br>10. Heath Slocum, -2</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2011/6/19/2231419/2011-u-s-open-leaderboard-results-rory-mcilroy-cruises-through-thirdMatt Conner2011-06-19T05:00:43-05:002011-06-19T05:00:43-05:002011 U.S. Open: Fourth Round Tee Times For Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson
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<p>For golfing fans wanting to see if history is either made or repeating itself on Sunday, the time to tune in is 3:20pm Eastern Time. That's when 22-year-old Irishman Rory McIlroy will tee off to cap his historic run at the 2011 U.S. Open at Bethesda's Congressional Country Club. Thus far, McIlroy has set records for lowest score after the second and third round and several are making comparisons of dominance to Tiger Woods. Yet the memory of McIlroy's meltdown at the Masters quickly comes into view as well, bringing even more drama to a fourth round that shouldn't really have any at this point.</p>
<p>If any other player were in the lead at this point with an eight-stroke lead, people would be tuning out already. Yet McIlroy not only has the naysayers wondering if he will once again crumble in the final round, but he also has a young mystique for a sport searching for a new figure. He's young and dominant and that's exactly what the PGA is looking for in the wake of Tiger's legal woes and inability to rise to his former glory. While tennis has its Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, golf is left with several seasoned pros and strong contenders, but no one with the dominant streak that everyone can attempt to topple.</p>
<p>So the heat is on for McIlroy and the rest of the pack can only try to play for second place at this point. Then again, Phil Mickelson himself lost seven strokes on the back nine alone today, proving that anyone is still vulnerable even with a seemingly insurmountable lead. The safe bet, however, is that McIlroy makes good this time around and finishes what he started.</p>
<p><b>Key Tee Times for Fourth Round at U.S. Open (All Times Eastern):</b><br>Rory McIlroy - 3:20pm<br>Y.E. Yang - 3:20pm<br>Jason Day - 3:10pm<br>Lee Westwood - 3:10pm<br>Robert Garrigus - 3:00pm<br>Fredrik Jacobson - 3:00pm<br>Sergio Garcia - 2:50pm<br>Matt Kuchar - 2:50pm<br>Davis Love III - 2:20pm<br>Graeme McDowell - 1:40pm<br>Phil Mickelson - 10:10am</p>
<p>The full scoreboard and list of tee times can be <a target="_blank" href="http://www.majorschampionships.com/usopen/2011/scoring/index.cfm?pgat_cid=search_usopenUSOpenLeaderboard&SR=sr3_598567_go">found here</a>.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2011/6/19/2231447/2011-u-s-open-fourth-round-tee-times-for-rory-mcilroy-phil-mickelsonMatt Conner2011-06-18T23:03:22-05:002011-06-18T23:03:22-05:00Crash And Burn: Phil Mickelson Tanks In Third Round At 2011 U.S. Open
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<p>There’s no other way to say it. After it seemed like golfing legend Phil Mickelson was making his move toward the top of the leaderboard in the middle of the second round of the 2011 U.S. Open, he just as quickly settled toward the middle of the pack. Then came today’s third round and the seasoned veteran fell apart like a rookie under pressure. It’s unseemingly and incredibly surprising for anyone watching the U.S. Open.</p>
<p>Mickelson currently stands in 57th place, just five strokes off of the worst scores still in the contest at +7 overall (Wes Heffernan and Brad Benjamin are tied for the honor of worst score at the U.S. Open with +12). The back nine in today’s third round for Mickelson did him in with two double bogeys and three bogeys to finish with an atrocious 77 on the day. In the process, Mickelson went from 1-under to 6-over in a matter of 8 holes.</p>
<p>Mickelson refused to speak to the press about it, but did say to the U.S. Golf Association that “Some things kind of fell apart there in the end.” That’s one way to put it, but crash and burn might be another. Here’s hoping Mickelson saves some face in the tournament’s final day.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2011/6/18/2231438/crash-and-burn-phil-mickelson-tanks-in-third-round-at-2011-u-s-openMatt Conner2011-06-18T23:03:21-05:002011-06-18T23:03:21-05:00Crash And Burn: Phil Mickelson Tanks In Third Round At 2011 U.S. Open
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<p>There’s no other way to say it. After it seemed like golfing legend Phil Mickelson was making his move toward the top of the leaderboard in the middle of the second round of the 2011 U.S. Open, he just as quickly settled toward the middle of the pack. Then came today’s third round and the seasoned veteran fell apart like a rookie under pressure. It’s unseemingly and incredibly surprising for anyone watching the U.S. Open.</p>
<p>Mickelson currently stands in 57th place, just five strokes off of the worst scores still in the contest at +7 overall (Wes Heffernan and Brad Benjamin are tied for the honor of worst score at the U.S. Open with +12). The back nine in today’s third round for Mickelson did him in with two double bogeys and three bogeys to finish with an atrocious 77 on the day. In the process, Mickelson went from 1-under to 6-over in a matter of 8 holes.</p>
<p>Mickelson refused to speak to the press about it, but did say to the U.S. Golf Association that “Some things kind of fell apart there in the end.” That’s one way to put it, but crash and burn might be another. Here’s hoping Mickelson saves some face in the tournament’s final day.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2011/6/18/2231437/crash-and-burn-phil-mickelson-tanks-in-third-round-at-2011-u-s-openMatt Conner2011-06-18T16:44:10-05:002011-06-18T16:44:10-05:00U.S. Open 2011: American Entrants Davis Love III, Matt Kuchar Linger In Top 10 On Leaderboard
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<p>Even though the very top of the U.S. Open leaderboard boasts an international flair with Irishman Rory McIlroy, Englishman Lee Westwood and Aussie Jason Day, several Americans linger in the Top 10 and look to make it a largely American success when everything is said and done — despite whether McIlroy is able to finish or not.</p>
<p>Robert Garrigus is currently halfway through the third round and he continues his impressive performance at Bethesda’s Congressional Country Club with a current No. 4 showing with a -4 overall score , including three birdies already today. Veteran great Davis Love <span class="caps">III</span> also has three birdies on the day and is tied at No. 7 on the leaderboard at -3. Matt Kuchar is tied with Love, and has been one of the steadiest performers of the weekend so far.</p>
<p>Several other Americans sit among these names as well, including Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Chappell, Bo Van Pelt, and Russell Henley. In fact, Americans occupy eight of the top 16 slots in the current standings. It’s a sign that despite the attention on the talented Irish golfer, there’s still many home players worth rooting for.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2011/6/18/2230990/u-s-open-2011-american-entrants-davis-love-iii-matt-kuchar-linger-inMatt Conner2011-06-18T11:44:08-05:002011-06-18T11:44:08-05:00U.S. Open 2011: Rory McIlroy, Y.E. Yang Tee Off In Third Round At 3:50 Eastern
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<p>After a record setting first two rounds at the U.S. Open, the luck of the Irish is apparently resting comfortably on 22-year-old sensation Rory McIlroy, who is receiving comparisons to Tiger Woods and finds himself the hero of many looking for the next great golfing champion. Perhaps he’d already be in that position had he not suffered the famous meltdown in the final round of this year’s Masters, but the thing that’s also evident from that major performance was that he was in elite enough company to be there in the first place.</p>
<p>Now McIlroy is his own worst enemy as no one is within six strokes of the leader, although Y.E. Yang would beg to differ since anything is possible on these last 36 holes. In today’s third round action, Yang will attempt to chip into that lead and hope that the forces of golf do the rest and keep McIlroy from keeping up such a blistering pace. For McIlroy himself, it’s about staying focused, ignoring the pressure and crowds and simply repeating what’s gotten him to this point.</p>
<p><span class="caps">NBC</span> will carry all of the afternoon action starting live at 2pm and continuing through 8pm Eastern Time. McIlroy and Yang tee off at 3:50pm. You can also see a dedicated live feed on holes No. 10 and 18 at <a href="http://www.usopen.com/en_US/index.html#!/live_video" target="new">USOpen.com</a>.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2011/6/18/2230614/u-s-open-2011-rory-mcilroy-y-e-yang-tee-off-in-third-round-at-3-50Matt Conner2011-06-18T06:00:53-05:002011-06-18T06:00:53-05:00U.S. Open 2011: TV Listings And Live Streams For Saturday, Day Three
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<p>The magical ride of Rory McIlroy continues with the second half of the 2011 U.S. Open at Bethesda, Maryland's Congressional Country Club today, and you can watch some of the action this afternoon on NBC. Unfortunately, viewing options are somewhat limited for those wanting to see the early morning play live from yesterday's rain suspended action, including the ongoing second round of Y.E. Yang, currently in second place.</p>
<p>NBC is carrying the live action from 2pm to 8pm (ET) throughout the afternoon and evening, so there's plenty of live action there. During the same time, a live feed at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usopen.com/en_US/index.html#!/live_video">USOpen.com</a> can also be watched with dedicated feeds for holes No. 10 and No. 18. Surprisingly, ESPN has no planned coverage of the U.S. Open throughout the day, but they did change their schedule to accommodate the second round on Friday with the rain delays, so perhaps the channel will surprise with bonus coverage on Saturday morning to wrap up the second round.</p>
<p>At this point, it's McIlroy's to lose, but the same thing was said just several weeks ago at the Masters, so anything is still possible and several players are set up to stay within shouting distance of first place. Yet if McIlroy loses once again in such devastating fashion, it's hard to tell how it might affect him in the future -- no matter how great the drama would be in the present.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2011/6/18/2230032/u-s-open-2011-tv-listings-and-live-streams-for-saturday-day-threeMatt Conner