Wild tee shots and media boycotts: The pride of Northern Ireland is acting oiut of character after finally winning the Masters.

In the week before the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy revealed he played Oakmont Country Club and shot an 81 - which would be 11-over in tournament conditions. “Last Monday felt impossible. I birdied the last two holes for 81,

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?

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 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.

After opening in 4-over 74, Rory McIlroy needed a good start Friday to get back in the U.S. Open mix. Didn't happen. McIlroy's tee shot at the par-4 first finished in an impossible lie in the left fairway bunker.

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 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.

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, Nos. 1 and 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking, respectively, will be competing in the Travelers Championship. Scheffler is the defending champion, having defeated Tom Kim in a playoff following a climate protest during the final hole of regulation.