BETHESDA, Md. – Rory McIlroy had made some brave statements after the third round, to the effect that he had learned from that crushing experience in the Masters two months ago, when he blew sky-high in the final round, and how he now knew what he had to do. He would not, he said, be consumed by the pressure of the final round of the U.S. Open, which he had entered with the heavenly cushion of an eight-shot lead. Then he came to the start of the final round Sunday, a moment everyone back... Read more

BETHESDA, Md. – Phil Mickelson, one of the pre-tournament favorites, opened then closed his U.S. Open with double bogeys (he had three, all told), and just had a lousy time of it, finishing way up the road with a 7-over 291. He doubled his first hole, the par-3 10th, on Thursday, and said no, the gust of wind that knocked his ball down into the fronting pond was not an omen of what kind of Open he would have. “I mean, that stuff happens,” he said. Awkwardly enough, he bogeyed... Read more

While most players prepare for a Major Championship by hitting the practice range for hours on end, Rory McIlroy took time out of his US Open build up to visit earthquake-ravaged Haiti last week. The 22 year old Northern Irishman met victims of the natural disaster that devastated Port-au-Prince 18 months ago as part of his work as a UNICEF sporting ambassador. McIlroy travelling to Haiti with his manager and friend Stuart Cage last Monday to see how the rebuilding process is progressing... Read more