SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – The wind didn’t win the war against Rory McIlroy during the first round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. It certainly did take its pound of flesh in the end, though.
Cruising along at three-under par through 16 holes, McIlroy hit two irons he later insisted were pure. His reward, thanks in part to the wind? Two terrible positions he failed to get up and down from, resulting in a very respectable one-under par, which could have been so much better. If not for the wind.
