Rory the Record-Breaker

Rory McIlroy has taken the US Open by the scruff off the neck and broken all manner of records in the process already. When the precocious 22-year-old’s 113-yard pitch to the eighth hole spun back from the rear of the green and dropped in for eagle, playing partner Phil Mickelson could only watch and applaud. No wonder. That shot gave the man from Northern Ireland a seven-stroke lead and made him the first player in the 111-year history of the tournament to reach 10 under during the second round. Only three men had ever got to that score at any stage of the event.

But that was just for starters. More birdies followed on 14 and 16 before McIlroy became the first player to ever reach -13 when the relentless combination of pin-point iron play and a hot putter reaped further reward on 17. His lead was then ten shots. Then, out of the blue, McIlroy found water and took a double-bogey down the last to finish with ‘just’ a 66 to go with his opening round 65. It was still the lowest 36-hole total in US Open history and although nearest rival Y E Yang reached -5 by the end of his round, a lead of six equalled another record at the half-way point.

The bookies inevitably struggled to keep pace with the bets being heaped on the youngster. McIlroy is now a best price of just 4/11 with Boylesports to win a first major title at Congressional. PaddyPower have opened a ‘McIlroy winning margin’ book with an alternative winner being just a 2/1 shot. The man from Holywood is 11/4 to win by 4-6 shots and 10/3 to win by 1-3 strokes; if it gets that close then memories of his final round debacle at Augusta may come into play. Alternatively, if McIlroy continues his electrifying form, he is 5/1 to win by nine shots or more.

Of the others, Y E Yang is the only contender to draw even remotely short odds to win. The South Korean is 9/1 with totesport while of the group at two under - nine shots back - Matt Kuchar is offered at 25/1 by skybet while Zach Johnson is 50/1 with Boylesports. With the incredible current situation, many firms may get more interest in their ‘w/o McIlroy’ market which remains more obviously competitive.