Rory McIlroy has issued a pointed plea to US Open officials ahead of next month's championship at Shinnecock Hills, urging them to resist the temptation to make the course 'borderline unplayable'. The world number one, who won his second Masters green jacket earlier this year at Augusta National, is bidding to add a second US Open title to his collection. Speaking ahead of the event, the Northern Irishman stressed that while the US Open should remain golf's sternest examination, it must not cross into unfair territory.
'I just hope the USGA don't get too carried away,' McIlroy told reporters. 'We all want a tough test, but there's a fine line between difficult and ridiculous. Shinnecock is a brilliant course, but if they push the pins to the edges and let the fairways run too fast, it becomes a lottery. Nobody wants to see a car crash.' The 35-year-old, who won the US Open in 2011 at Congressional, has been in outstanding form this season, climbing back to the summit of the world rankings with consistent performances on both sides of the Atlantic.
Shinnecock Hills, on Long Island, New York, has a reputation for punishing setups. The 2018 edition saw several players complain bitterly about the course's brutal conditions, with Phil Mickelson infamously tapping a moving ball on the 13th green in frustration. McIlroy, who finished tied for fifth that year, believes the organisers learned lessons from that episode. 'They've got a chance to get it right this time,' he added. 'I just hope they let the best player win, not the one who gets lucky with the wind.'
McIlroy's plea comes as he prepares for a packed summer schedule, with the Open Championship at Royal Portrush also firmly in his sights. The Holywood star has long spoken of his desire to win a fifth major, and a victory at Shinnecock would put him halfway to the career Grand Slam. He currently leads the FedEx Cup standings and has posted top-five finishes in three of his last four starts on the PGA Tour. 'I feel like my game is in a really good place,' he said. 'I'm driving it well, my iron play is sharp, and I'm putting with confidence. It's just about going out there and executing.'
If McIlroy does prevail, he would become the first European to win the US Open and Masters in the same year since Sir Nick Faldo in 1990. The US Open begins on 12 June, with McIlroy paired alongside defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and world number two Scottie Scheffler for the opening two rounds.