Performance Indicators Suggesting Rory McIlroy May Be Overlooked at Oakmont
Ranting About Rory McIlroy's RBC Canadian Open Disaster and US Open Challenges Ahead
Bloody hell, Rory McIlroy had a shocker at the RBC Canadian Open last week. The World No. 2 bloke couldn't hit a barn door off the tee, and equipment changes for the tournament, including a new driver, 3-wood, and 3-iron, didn't help his cause. In round two, he missed ten fairways and was second-worst in the field in strokes gained off the tee – not something you'd normally see from the Northern Irishman.
Now, he needs to get his act together for the US Open this week at Oakmont Country Club. With tight fairways and unforgiving long rough, he can't have the same tee trouble he had in Canada. To address this, McIlroy's been spotted using the TaylorMade Qi10 driver again since the debacle in Toronto, following a brief switch to the Qi35 last time out.
McIlroy admitted his problems are "a concern going into next week." His performance at TPC Toronto followed a mediocre PGA Championship where he placed T47th, causing him to drift in the betting odds for the US Open. William Hill spokesperson, Lee Phelps, said, "Following his first missed cut of the season at the RBC Canadian Open, Rory McIlroy has drifted in the US Open outright market from 8/1 to 11/1, behind favorite Scottie Scheffler (13/5) and defending champion Bryson DeChambeau (7/1)."
Being one of the best players in the world and consistently ranking in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking since 2010, McIlroy has missed more cuts than you'd presume. Between now and 2015, he has missed 25 cuts, with the US Open (3) and the Players Championship (3) tallying the highest number in the same tournament.
Obviously missing the US Open cut three times in that time span may not read well for this week, but McIlroy has a great record in the championship, including back-to-back runner-up finishes. The Northern Irishman has responded well after missing the cut in previous years, with three victories and ten top-10 finishes in his next start following a missed cut.
His latest win came at the Wells Fargo Championship in 2021, after he missed the cut at The Masters. His other post-cut wins came at the RBC Canadian Open after missing the cut at The Memorial in 2019 and the Arnold Palmer Invitational after missing the cut at the Valspar Championship in 2018.
When he won the US Open in 2011, he finished 5th at The Memorial the week before. However, his short-term form isn't as good this time around. So, you'd be wrong to completely discourage McIlroy this week, who has already won three times this year.
Here's a quick look at McIlroy's last 10 missed cuts and how he responded:
2024 The 152nd Open MC - T5 Olympics2023 The Masters MC - T47 Wells Fargo Championship2023 The Players Championship MC - 3 Dell Technologies Match Play2022 FedEx St.Jude Championship MC - T8 BMW Championship2022 Valero Texas Open MC - 2 The Masters2021 ABRDN Scottish Open MC - T46 The 149th Open2021 The Masters MC - 1 Wells Fargo Championship2021 The Players Championship MC - T28 Dell Technologies Match Play2021 The Genesis Invitational MC - T6 Workday Championship
Although some may criticize McIlroy's recent performances, it's important to remember his incredible 2025 Masters success and his knack for bouncing back after a missed cut. This doesn't mean he always succeeds, as on two occasions he has missed two cuts back-to-back, most recently at the Irish and Scottish Opens in 2017. However, even after two missed cuts, the World No.2 always shows his resilience and bounces back – evidenced by his T4 finish at the 2017 Open Championship after the Scottish Open.
When it comes to consistency, players like Scottie Scheffler (1) and Xander Schauffele (3) have set the bar high, missing very few cuts since 2022. Tiger Woods, who holds the record for consecutive cuts made (142 events between 1998 and 2005), also demonstrates the unyielding dedication required to dominate golf.
In the US Open's last ten years, McIlroy has had mixed results, with a 2nd, 2nd, T5, T7, T8, MC, MC, MC, T9, and T37. As McIlroy heads to Oakmont, he'll be determined to prove his doubters wrong and secure another major win. Let's hope he finds his A-game in time!
Despite his disappointing performance at the RBC Canadian Open, McIlroy plans to address his tee trouble and improve for the US Open. With a history of bouncing back after missed cuts and a great record in the US Open, McIlroy may still have a chance at Oakmont Country Club, where tight fairways and unforgiving long rough require precision.
