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BETHESDA, Md. — When Tiger Woods was en route to winning 14 major championships faster than anyone in the history of the game — remember that? — he was so dominant, his competitors used to wonder if he were playing the same golf course they were.
Before Woods came along, fellow competitors used to wonder the same thing about Jack Nicklaus.
Now along comes Rory McIlroy, who has been in such utter command of his game through the first two rounds of the 111th U.S. Open, he effectively has put the tournament to sleep.
For the second consecutive day on Congressional’s Blue Course, McIlroy looked as if he were playing the ladies’ tees while the rest of the field was playing from the back.
While charging to a two-day total of 11-under-par 131 thanks to a 5-under-par 66 yesterday, McIlroy broke the U.S. Open record for lowest 36-hole score and enters the weekend with a six-shot lead over Y.E. Yang, who’s 5-under.
That tied Woods’ record for the largest 36-hole lead in U.S. Open history.
Play was suspended due to darkness, leaving 21 players to finish the second round this morning.
McIlroy also set the U.S. Open record for the fastest ever to get to double-digits under par (10-under through 26 holes) and, when he got to 13-under through the 17th hole yesterday, he set a record for the furthest under par anyone has ever gotten in this championship.
“These records, they’re nice, but they don’t really mean anything until the end of the tournament,” McIlroy said. “If I can look back on this tournament with a trophy in my hand and look back at the records, that would be nice.”
The 22-year-old baby-faced assassin from Northern Ireland has made it look so easy in what is traditionally known as the most difficult major of all, it’s as if he has been playing a video game for the last two days.
As McIlroy’s group finished up the 14th hole and waited to tee off on No. 15, Phil Mickelson’s caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, whispered this to ESPN’s on-course reporter, Andy North: “Is there a B flight this week?”
Indeed, McIlroy has been so superior, it seems like everyone else in the field is playing for second place.
“If he keeps playing the way he’s playing we’re all playing for second place,” said Brandt Snedeker, 2-under par.
Zach Johnson, who was playing in the group behind McIlroy and is 2-under par, joked, “I was kind of wondering what course he played and if he played all the holes.
“Obviously he’s running high on confidence, and when you combine those, it can be very lethal on the golf course.”
McIlroy, who became the fastest player in U.S. Open history to get to double-digits under par (10-under) when he holed out a 114-yard wedge on for eagle on the 8th hole, will truly show his lethal side if he’s able to close out and win his first major.
Because before anyone hands him the championship they only have to look back at this year’s Masters in April, when he blew a four-shot lead heading into final round by shooting an 80.
McIlroy, mature beyond his 22 years, sure is carrying himself like a guy who’s ready to make that Masters experience disappear from his rearview mirror.
“I put myself in a great position going into the weekend, but I know more than probably anyone else what can happen,” he said. “So I’ve got to stay really focused and try and finish this thing off.”
The only hiccup during McIlroy’s 36 holes came on a sloppy double bogey on 18 after a pulled drive to the left rough and a pulled approach shot into the greenside pond.
J.P. Fitzgerald, McIlroy’s caddie, said, “the last hole is not going to ruin our day.”
But Fitzgerald, who was on McIlroy’s bag at Augusta, was not ready to count any winner’s check money, either.
“We know we’re only halfway there with a big weekend in front of us,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s a long way to go. It will be a great test for him this weekend.”