Rory McIIroy has missed the cut for the second year running at the US Open, despite a fast finish to his second round at Erin Hills.
The four-time major champion needed to make a quick start after yesterday’s erratic opening-round 78, where he finished joint-last in the 156-man field for finding fairways.
Any hopes of making the weekend were all but ended with a run of three straight bogeys on his second nine, before McIlroy fired four birdies over the closing stretch to card a one-under 71.
McIlroy missed from five feet at the 10th – his opening hole – and dropped a shot at the 12th after misjudging a chip from just off the green.
The world No 2 responded by rolling in a 12-footer at the next but failed to convert a number of chances along the back nine, seeing him reach the turn in 36.
He then four-putted from a long way off the first green to card a bogey-six, before aggressively pushing his par-save attempt at the next eight feet past the hole.
A third consecutive bogey at the third dropped McIlroy to nine over for the week, but he bounced back with a six-foot gain at the fourth and another birdie from a similar distance at the next.
McIlroy posted a two-putt birdie at the seventh to get back even par for the day, before going inches away from a hole-in-one at the ninth on his way to a closing gain.
Playing partner Jason Day also missed the cut after a back-nine 40 saw him slip to 10 over for the tournament, with PGA Champion Jimmy Walker among the others to make an early exit.
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