McIlroy trying to stay positive

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June 17, 2016

While he's hopeful of turning things around, Rory McIlroy looks down and out after an opening 77 at the US Open.

A stop-start, weather-disrupted opening day is not what any of the players would have wanted, but McIlroy seemed to struggle with the conditions more than most.

Oakmont may have been playing softer as a result of all the rain that had fallen, but the four-time major champion wasn't able to take advantage.

Resuming on four over par on Friday morning with five holes to play, McIlroy could not turn things around, bogeying his final three holes for a dreadful seven-over-par 77.

That left him a full 11 shots back of leader Andrew Landry.

“There are scores out there to be had, but you really need to be in control of your golf game, and the last couple days I guess I wasn’t,” McIlroy admitted.

“I think I hit five fairways and eight green, which isn’t going to do anything.”

His frustration was summed up by his bogey at 17. Going for the green on the drivable par-4, McIlroy found the greenside bunker and then hit his second shot through the green and into the massive front bunker known as 'Big Mouth'.

“I thought I played a great bunker shot,” McIlroy said of his second shot. “I didn’t land the ball more than three or four paces on the green. I didn’t even think about putting it in that other bunker.”

McIlroy's second round will not start before Saturday, giving him some time to regather his thoughts and perhaps rediscover some form. He'll have to shoot something low if he's to have any chance of making the cut.

“I might just go out there and hit a lot of drivers and try to be as aggressive as I can,” McIlroy said.

“For me the toughest thing is just stay positive and not get too down on myself."

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