The folks at Los Angeles Country Club set up their US Open course a lot tougher for the second round after records tumbled on the opening day. Rory McIlroy had scores of 65 and 67 to reflect that but he could not be happier.
The Northern Irishman started Friday three shots back from co-leaders Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele. At one stage, with the Americans yet to tee off, he fell five behind. By the time he walked off the ninth green, after a fifth birdie on his closing nine, he was only one shot off new leader Wyndham Clark.
The second round eventually wrapped with Fowler [-10] in the solo lead, Clark one back and both McIlroy and Schauffele tied for third on -8.
"I felt like, coming into this week, [it] was going to be a key for me if I could put the ball in play," McIlroy told reporters. "You can play from there and create some scoring opportunities.
"That's really my game plan over the next couple days. Put the ball in play off the tee, and I think I'll be just fine from there."
[caption id="attachment_289035" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland pictured with caddie Harry Diamond during the second round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)[/caption]
Rory McIlroy rewatching videos of last major win
Rory McIlroy also told the media ranks about a YouTube video that has helped him rediscover his best, and get back to basics.
McIlroy was asked about on-course decisions 'to press or be patient' and if those calls had changed or evolved over the years. One of the more open players on the circuit, the 34-year-old spoke of going back to YouTube to watch footage of his last major win.
"I think I've went through sort of ebbs and flows with that throughout my career," he began.
"For whatever reason, I went on to YouTube a few weeks ago and was just looking back at like Hoylake in 2014 and specifically that, and I actually couldn't believe how many irons and 3-woods and stuff I was hitting off the tee.
"It set something off in my mind about, you know how to do this. You know how to play smart. You don't have to hit driver all the time. Yes, it's a big weapon, it's a big advantage. But I keep saying I've got more weapons in my arsenal I feel now than I did back then, so I may as well use them and play to them.
"I've went through periods over the last few years where I haven't been patient enough and I've taken on too much. This week and even over the past... even Memorial was tough at the weekend and trying to stay patient there. Canada was a little different, last week."
"We've had some tests recently where you have to display patience," McIlroy added, "and hopefully those few experiences recently will help me this weekend."
Elsewhere at LACC, Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington are hanging around as both ended up inside the +2 cut line. Seamus Power (+4) and amateur Matthw McClean (+11) are both heading home.
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland pictured with caddie Harry Diamond during the second round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)[/caption]
