Rory in touch and content after successfully steadying the ship

Rory McIlroy will start today’s second round at the US Open confident he can cope with any adversity Pinehurst No 2 throws at him, deal with it and stay on an even keel.

The world number six, who won his first major at the 2011 US Open, was satisfied with an opening-round, one-over-par 71 yesterday that keeps him nicely positioned, in touch with the clubhouse lead held early last night by fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell and American Kevin Na at two under par.

Even more pleasing for the 25-year-old was the way he rallied from back-to-back bogeys at the sixth and seventh holes, the rest of his round featuring two birdies and only one more bogey when previous experience might have indicated something of a nightmare stretch of holes.