You know it’s been a rough week when Rory McIlroy’s biggest smile comes from watching his best friend make an amateur mistake. But that’s exactly what happened Friday at the U.S. Open’s most unforgiving venue.
Shane Lowry was enduring a complete mental breakdown at Oakmont. At +16 and completely out of contention, exhaustion was clearly taking its toll on the 2019 Open champion. On the 14th green, Lowry absent-mindedly picked up his ball without marking it first. The basic mistake earned him a one-stroke penalty.
His playing partner, Rory McIlroy, immediately saw the humor in the moment. Despite his own nightmare week, McIlroy couldn’t help but smile at his friend’s mental lapse. The two Irishmen have been close since their amateur days.
But McIlroy had plenty of his own problems. After completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters, his form had completely collapsed. He opened with a 4-over 74. Then Friday brought pure disaster. Two double bogeys in his first three holes sent him spiraling. Currently sitting at +7, he’s right on the projected cut line of +7. The frustration boiled over on the par-5 12th. After another poor approach shot, McIlroy launched his club down the fairway in disgust.
Sometimes golf’s cruelest moments produce its most human ones. And this moment perfectly captured what Oakmont was doing to seasoned professionals. Both men were feeling the course’s psychological warfare differently. Lowry’s brain fade represented complete mental exhaustion. McIlroy’s club throw showed mounting frustration from a perfectionist.
Their friendship has weathered countless storms since their amateur days back in Ireland. Through McIlroy’s four major victories before this year’s Masters breakthrough. Through Lowry’s emotional triumph at Royal Portrush in 2019. Through the ups and downs that define professional golf careers.
But McIlroy and Lowry weren’t alone in their struggles. Across the field, Oakmont was systematically dismantling even the most seasoned professionals.
Major champions including Rory McIlroy battle Oakmont’s punishing setup
The course was systematically breaking down seasoned professionals. Friday’s field scoring average of 74.63 represents the highest first-round average at a U.S. Open since Shinnecock Hills in 2018. Only 10 players managed to break par in the opening round.
For McIlroy, this represented potentially historic territory. If the cut line holds at +7, it would end a remarkable six-year streak of making major championship weekends. His last missed major cut came back in 2019.
The course setup explains everything. Five-inch rough with no graduated penalties swallows any wayward shot. Greens running at 14’5″ to 14’9″ on the Stimpmeter create putting nightmares. The 28-yard-wide fairways offer minimal margin for error.
“You can’t let your mind slip on these greens for one moment, or else you’re going to be left with possibly a 10- to 15-footer on the next putt, if not worse,” warned Jordan Spieth.
The projected casualties extend far beyond Lowry. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau sits at +10, potentially missing his first U.S. Open cut since 2017. Justin Thomas (+12), Dustin Johnson (+10), and Ludvig Aberg (+8) all face likely early weekend departures if the cut line holds.
Meanwhile, McIlroy’s position at +7 appears safe for the weekend, though his struggles highlight just how challenging Oakmont has been for even the world’s elite players.
Golf’s unforgiving nature was on full display. Yet, it was also the human element that makes the sport compelling. The friendship that transcends scoreboards. The laughter that breaks through pressure. Their moment of shared humor will outlast any cut line.
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