Rory McIlroy carded a 69 in the first round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday. The round comes eight years after he missed the cut at the same venue in 2018.
McIlroy said after the round that his goal was to stay in contention without making mistakes that would end his week early. He noted this approach differed from his performance in 2018, when he failed to break 80 in the opening round.
Over the past eight years, McIlroy has adjusted his game to include more controlled shots and improved putting. These changes helped him reach three under par before late bogeys dropped him back on Thursday.
He has spoken about targeting victories at traditional U.S. Open venues, including Shinnecock this year. McIlroy has recorded six top-10 finishes in the event over the past seven years.
