RORY McIlroy and Shane Lowry have been paired TOGETHER for this week’s US Open at Oakmont in Pennsylvania.
It’s a surprise move by organisers given how big names are generally kept apart for the opening two rounds.
Rory McIlroy’s form has fallen off a cliff since winning the Masters in April[/caption]
But Shane Lowry’s game looks to be in optimum condition[/caption]
Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele is another notable pairing[/caption]
While Scottie Scheffler will play alongside Collin Morikawa, and Viktor Hovland[/caption]
But in this case, all Irish eyes will be on one particular playing group across Thursday and Friday’s action.
Their group hasn’t exactly been rounded out by a nobody either as Justin Rose completes the high-profile trio with the Masters runner-up joining them from the 10th hole onwards.
Lowry and McIlroy will tee off in the year’s third major at 12.40pm Irish time.
Their second round will commence at 6.25pm Irish time.
The Offaly native comes into the notoriously tricky major championship in fine form on the back of finishing tied-13th at last week’s Canadian Open.
For that result, he earned a paycheque of $180,810. Tournament winner Ryan Fox scooped $1.76 million after besting Sam Burns in a play-off.
Lowry had catapulted himself into contention on Thursday with a scintillating opening-round score of six-under-par.
He backed that up on Friday with a two-under round of 68.
But with pal McIlroy having packed his bags at the halfway stage, the leaders struck clear on Saturday, while Lowry could only shoot another 68.
He got off to a cracking start in Toronto on Sunday. The Clara man shot an eagle on the first before backing it up with three birdies on the spin.
But a bogey on the ninth after four consecutive pars halted his momentum.
And while he steadied the ship by parring the next five, he was running out of time and holes to remain in contention.
A birdie on the 15th kept him in the hunt but bogeys on the 16th and 17th killed his hopes off.
The Ireland Olympian moves on to Oakmont next, where he finished runner-up to Dustin Johnson in the 2016 US Open.
After wrapping up his Sunday round the 38-year-old posted an upbeat summation on Instagram.
It read: “Great tournament, great people, disappointing finish. Thank you Canada, Canadian Open and sponsors RBC. On to the US Open.”
This will be a record-extending 10th time that the US Open will be held at Oakmont.
The rough on Oakmont stands at 5 INCHES tall, with the course trimmed to ensure that is uniform throughout all 18 holes.
World number one Scottie Scheffler will go into it as a short-priced favourite. Last week he backed up his PGA Championship success with a dominant victory at the Memorial.
