Tall fescue grass on the fourth, 12th, 14th and 18th holes was being cut as McIlroy gave his pre-tournament press conference, which caught the 2011 champion by surprise.

The venue for this week's US Open is like a "links course on steroids" according to Spain's Jon Rahm, who is one of the favourites for victory in just the fourth major championship of his career.

Ahead of the US Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin this week, the United States Golf Association (USGA) is rightfully nervous. 

Irish golfers have won The Open five times, the US Open twice and the US PGA three times, not to mention nine British Amateur Championships.

When Jack Nicklaus said that Merion “acre for acre may be the best test of golf in the world”, he certainly wasn’t considering the course from the point of view of tournament logistics.

On the surface, you’d have to assume that Mike Davis has never stepped foot in the United Kingdom and had the pleasure of navigating a true links.

Tiger Woods today said he understood and accepted the decision of Masters officials to hand him a two-shot penalty for taking an incorrect drop during yesterday’s second round.

Tiger Woods has been given a two-shot penalty for taking an incorrect drop during his second round at the Masters yesterday, organisers announced today.

Tiger Woods’ bid for a fifth Masters title remained alive today after he was given a two-shot penalty, rather than disqualification, according to reports.

Colin Montgomerie has warned of the dangers golf faces now that the PGA Tour in America has said it is against the proposed ban on anchored putters.

The PGA Tour has come out against the proposed ban of anchored putters from 2016 — but is not saying yet what it will do if the ban comes into force.

Any threat of legal action will not stop golf’s governing bodies introducing a ban on anchored putters in 2016.

Three of golf's last five major champions will not be able to continue putting as they do from 2016 under a proposed rule change announced today.

Tiger Woods was hoping to hear today that the way long putters are anchored to the body is going to be outlawed.

Golfers around the world are waiting to hear if long putters are to be banned — or at least the way many currently use them is banned.

First Keegan Bradley at the US PGA Championship last August, then Webb Simpson at the US Open last month, now a British Open one-two of Ernie Els and Adam Scott.

First Keegan Bradley at the USPGA Championship last August, then Webb Simpson at the US Open last month, now an Open one-two of Ernie Els and Adam Scott.

If you accept as truth what has been widely reported, that this northern California city is one of the world’s most beautiful, the evidence was not readily available yesterday morning to substantiate that claim.

Rory McIlroy made winning the US Open last year look pretty easy but the defending champion knows this year’s championship course will not be set up with a view to further record breaking.

THE Chinese government has a history of detaining dissidents, but putting the US Open golf trophy under lock and key sounds too bizarre to be true.

It’s called The Open — always has been and always will be

GOLF’S governing bodies have changed the ruling which cost Padraig Harrington disqualification after an opening 65 in Abu Dhabi in January.

Golf’s governing bodies have changed the ruling which cost Padraig Harrington disqualification after an opening 65 in Abu Dhabi in January.

Martin Kaymer is on course to retain the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and take the world number two spot off Tiger Woods after a scintillating second-round 65 today.

David Fay has announced his retirement as executive director of the United States Golf Association.

AS the spiritual home of the US Open, the storied Pebble Beach Golf Links seemed perhaps an incongruous place to announce the destination of a new venue on the circuit for the 2017 tournament.

US Open officials have played down criticism of their championship set-up by world number one Tiger Woods.

THE United States Golf Association has chosen Erin Hills, a newly-opened public golf course in Wisconsin, to stage the 2017 US Open.

Rocco Mediate has accepted a place at the US Open that became available because St Jude Classic winner Lee Westwood was already in the field, the United States Golf Association has confirmed.

Simon Khan is ready to fly to California at the end of next week if he thinks there is any realistic chance of him being called into the US Open field.

TIGER Woods’ marriage to Swedish model Elin Nordegren looks to be over – and the divorce could cost the golfer a huge portion of his billion-dollar fortune.

AMERICAN Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin is unconcerned by Tiger Woods’ inactivity this year after the world number one returned from his self-imposed exile with a top 10 finish at the Masters last week.

American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin is unconcerned by Tiger Woods’ inactivity this year after the world number one returned from his self-imposed exile with a top 10 finish at the Masters last week.

Tiger Woods looks set to take part in June’s US Open after submitting an entry form to the United States Golf Association.

Phil Mickelson is taking advice on what course of action to follow in the wake of accusations of cheating.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem is to meet with players next Tuesday in a bid to address growing disquiet over the use of controversial pre-1990 Ping i2 irons.

Ricky Barnes took a one-shot lead into the final round of the US Open but it could have been so much better for the American at Bethpage Black.

Ricky Barnes further staked his claim to a US Open victory as the third round finally resumed today with the major heading for a first Monday finish since 1983.

The 109th US Open was heading for a first Monday finish since 1983 after more heavy rain fell on the Bethpage Black course overnight.

First-round play resumed at the rain-hit US Open today but the return to the action did Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington no favours.

Defending champion Tiger Woods needed to be at his combative best to stay on track for back-to-back wins as the 109th US Open began under dark skies and heavy rain at Bethpage Black.

Defending champion Tiger Woods needed to be at his combative best to rescue par at the opening hole as the 109th US Open got under way under dark skies and in persistent drizzle at Bethpage Black.