US Open: McIlroy and Lowry Struggle in First Round

In Oakmont, Pennsylvania, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both had disappointing starts at the US Open on Thursday, despite hoping for strong performances from several players.

Following his impressive win at the Masters earlier this year, McIlroy seemed to lose his focus, finishing the round with a score of 4-over 74. It’s interesting—he was runner-up this season and also the last time the US Open was held at Oakmont in 2016.

After dropping to 47th in the PGA standings and missing the cut in Canada last week, McIlroy had somewhat of a silver lining, being paired with his good friend Lowry. He got off to a decent start, going 2-under 33 on the front nine, but faltered on the back, ultimately shooting 6-over 41 with four bogeys.

Post-round, McIlroy didn’t speak with reporters and even declined requests from the USGA to comment on his performance. It was a stark change from his previous outings where he was more open with the media.

Surprise Performances

Lightning struck in more ways than one on Thursday. Max Moldovan, a 23-year-old qualifier from Ohio, shocked everyone by holing out on the first hole, quickly moving to 2 under par. He expressed his excitement, saying it was a unique way to start his day.

After hitting a 191-yard eight iron, Moldovan couldn’t see the ball go in but heard the crowd cheer. When he discovered it was in, he celebrated, uplifting his spirits with gratitude.

Local Recognition

Matt Voight, a 34-year-old dentist from the Oakmont area, was also part of the tournament, teeing off early at 6:45. He finished with a score of 82, which was 12 over par. Despite the challenging day, he expressed pride in representing his hometown.

Voight reflected on his round, noting that making mental mistakes can severely impact performance on such a demanding course. His optimism faced tough challenges, but he still found joy in the experience.

The Veterans and Unexpected Rounds

Phil Mickelson, the only player in the field who has competed at Oakmont since the 1994 US Open, had a tough outing as well, finishing with a score of 74.

Meanwhile, Si Woo Kim had a standout performance, scoring 2 under par during the morning wave. Surprised by his own success after practice rounds earlier in the week, he admitted he didn’t expect to perform so well.

The day was filled with ups and downs, a true testament to the unpredictable nature of the game. As the tournament progresses, many players will be hoping to turn their fortunes around.