Something is eating Rory McIlroy. How does a guy go from the pinnacle of professional fulfillment to the petulant, club-throwing, tee marker-smashing anger ball that’s been stomping around Oakmont Country Club the last two days?

Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy had a disappointing first round at the US Open and got off to an even worse start in the second.

The Masters champion said he had been struggling to find motivation and in his second round at Oakmont showed frustration, but made it to the weekend.

Rory McIlroy lost his cool. Twice. But he will still make the cut, though just barely, at the 125th U.S. Open. McIlroy started his day 4-over par after a shaky 74 in Round 1. He then proceeded to double bogey two of his first three holes on Friday.

Rory McIlroy is not having a good time as he is among the U.S. Open victims battling the carnage at Oakmont Country Club and a tee time this weekend.

The U.S. Open is as much a mental test as it is physical. Still, the rules violation Shane Lowry found himself in Friday afternoon at Oakmont was so absurd that he and Rory McIlroy could only laugh at it.

Rory McIlroy made a couple early birdies at the U.S. Open. That encouraging start was short lived for the slumping Masters champion. A poor second nine left McIlroy with a 4-over 74 in Thursday’s first round at Oakmont.