Rory McIlroy throws club in anger at US Open as struggles persist

Since winning the Masters in April and completing the career grand slam, it’s fair to say Rory McIlroy hasn’t been himself. 

A missed cut at the PGA Championship last month was compounded by one of the worst results of his career in Canada last weekend.

So, expectations were set somewhat low for him entering this week’s US Open at Oakmont.

And, as it turns out, justifiably so.

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After a sluggish four-over-par opening round, McIlroy’s struggles persisted into Friday before his frustrations finally boiled over as he battled to make the cut.

After finding the fairway off the tee on the huge par-5 12th, the world No.2 hooked his second shot into the thick rough, prompting him to launch his club in fury.

Watch it for yourself here…

Frustration boils over for Rory McIlroy after his approach shot on the 12th 😡 pic.twitter.com/jEeLhycsRM

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 13, 2025

Paul McGinley called the moment for Sky Sports and could only sigh at the sight of fellow Irishman’s struggles.

“Oh Rory,” said the former Ryder Cup-winning captain. “Oh boy, oh boy.

“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. What can we say about that?

We thought that winning a major, winning The Masters was going to unlock him It looks like it’s burdened him more than anything else

“We haven’t seen the best of him since.”

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He added: “It feels like he needs a break. that’s what it feels like. He won this huge, big thing and he wanted to celebrate it but, before he could even think about doing that, he was on top of another major championship.

“His frustration is quite clear there. His game is not where he needs it to be.”

Alongside McGinley on comms, former PGA champion Rich Beem quipped: “I wonder if he thought after The Masters, finally a big exhale moment, that the game’s going to be easy.”

“I don’t think anybody ever thinks that, do they?” replied McGinley. “It was such a huge achievement, of course. It might take a period of adjustment. It’s the biggest achievement of anybody in this era since Tiger Woods.”

Fortunately for McIlroy, he managed to turn things around and rallied with a birdie on the last hole to squeeze into the weekend.

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content