'Better putting in the dark' - cheer for Rory McIlroy after long day at US Open

Louis Oosthuizen made a run up the leaderboard to catch pace-setter Russell Henley

Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

At the end of the longest of U.S. Open days that nearly got away from him, Rory McIlroy left Torrey Pines with a little unexpected bounce in his step.

After burying a 22-foot par-saving putt from the fringe in the light of the scoreboard and hustling to get a tee ball from the group off 18 before the horn blew to suspend play, McIlroy slammed in an 8-footer for birdie on the last to finish 1-under par with a 70 in Thursday’s first round.