Rory McIlroy starts the US Open strongly, but struggles late in his rounds at Shinnecock Hills. In the tournament’s earlier stages, McIlroy posts a fast start, birdieing two of his first three holes and capitalizing on a fog-hit, challenging environment to take the early lead. He makes several key putts during that stretch, including pars and birdies from short range and longer distances. However, his momentum does not hold. Reports describe late back-nine difficulties, including a sequence involving multiple bogeys, one report noting three straight bogeys followed by a double bogey, and another describing five bogeys overall with a 3-over 73 after beginning with a 69. The scores on the back nine significantly affect his chances of moving up the leaderboard. One account notes he makes his way off the course after finishing, declining interview requests. Across outlets, the common theme is that McIlroy’s early performance contrasts with a costly late run that damages, and potentially ends, his title push.