Rory McIlroy falls down the leaderboard at the US Open after struggling on the back nine, according to multiple reports. Both outlets describe that McIlroy starts the round among the leading contenders but then makes slower progress as he moves from the turn to the final holes. By the time he completes his back nine, he has dropped significantly from his earlier position in the field. The Independent reports that McIlroy is seven strokes off the pace after being in contention at the turn, indicating a notable shift in his round once he reaches the back half. The Belfast Telegraph similarly highlights that McIlroy slips down the US Open leaderboard, linking the decline to his performance on the back nine. While the reports focus on the movement in his position and the difficulty he faces after the turn, they provide limited detail on specific hole outcomes or causes beyond the general “struggling” on the back nine. Overall, the coverage agrees that the late-round swing in results moves McIlroy away from the leading places he occupies at the halfway point.