US OPEN: Putting woes leave McIlroy with plenty to do

Rory McIlroy will have to start putting much better over the next three days if he is to add to his haul of major championship victories here at Chambers Bay after a disappointing opening round at the 115th US Open Championship.

The world number one and four-time major champion shot a less than stellar two-over-par 72 on the links by Puget Sound in America’s Pacific Northwest, a round featuring two birdies, four bogeys and 30 putts that sent him back to the practice putting green immediately after the Irishman had completed his post-round media commitments.

“They are not the best greens I have putted on but I should be used to it as the last two tournaments I’ve played have been just as bad,” said McIlroy, who missed the cut in both the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and Irish Open at Royal County Down.