Rory Roars: McIlroy Captures 2011 U.S. Open, Sets All-Time Scoring Records

It’s not shocking to note TV ratings for the final round of the 2011 U.S. Open were down 26 percent compared to the previous year’s. However, 2011’s 5.1 rating tied with 2009’s -- and since 2002, only 2010 and 2008’s 5.3 have been higher. So we’re not talking about a completely apathetic populace.

Many are going to blame Tiger Woods’ absence for that slightly disappointing figure. But as Tim Kawakami pointed out Friday, if Woods had been in the tournament, he still probably would’ve been trailing Rory anyway.

About a month ago, someone offered me cheap tickets to the U.S. Open, and I jumped at the chance for two reasons. First, because I’d never been to a golf tournament before, and figured there was no better place to start than the major they were playing about a half hour from my apartment in D.C. Second, because watching Tiger Woods on Sunday at a Major seems like something that should be on every sports fan’s bucket list. This was my chance to kill two birds with one stone.

Of course, Tiger pulled out of the Open about a week after I bought my tickets, and my master plan fell apart. Then it became just another golf tournament. A field full of solid, anonymous golfers (to me, anyway), and a bunch of golf fanatics in the gallery—because who else could justify putting up the money and putting up with the crowds at a tournament without Tiger? You have to love golf for golf’s sake, and I’m not in that category.

For the latest on Rory McIlroy’s victory at the 2011 U.S. Open, stay with this StoryStream throughout the day. For more on golf, head over to SB Nation’s Waggle Room.

Viewers of the 2011 US Open have gotten to watch Rory McIlroy’s father make his way through the crowds alongside his record-breaking son, dodging the camera and acknowledging comments from fans without taking his eye off the goal at hand. The way he never stopped moving to get a better look, even when loomed over by Shane McMahon for some reason, almost made it seem like he was swimming against a current, hoping to meet his son at some point upstream.

After McIlroy tapped in the putt on hole No. 18 that assured him of one of the greatest performances in golf history, he shook hands with Y.E. Yang, hugged his caddy and then immediately looked for the big guy in lime green.

Rory McIlroy’s runaway 2011 U.S. Open victory is the culmination of a masterful week of golf. It also puts him in parts of record books that only Tiger Woods had previously seen.

McIlroy shattered a number of U.S Open scoring records for both score in relation to par and aggregate score on the way to his 16-under 268, and he threatened a number of all-time major championship records, too.

The course at Congressional Country Club was no match for Rory McIlroy in the 111th US Open, with the 22-year-old Northern Irishman shattering records and lacking mercy in doing so. He only let himself enjoy it during a few moments of Sunday’s final round, but now that the tournament is in the books he’s on top of the world.

While receiving the 2011 US Open Trophy, the youngest event champion since Bobby Jones was asked by Bob Costas whether he can play any better than this:

Rory McIlroy has won the 2011 U.S. Open, completing a weekend coronation earned with some of the most scintillating play golf has ever seen.

McIlroy fired a final round 69 to finish the U.S. Open at 16-under 268, shattering U.S Open records held by Tiger Woods for both score in relation to par and aggregate score at the end of a four-round decimation of Congressional Golf Club. McIlroy finished eight strokes ahead of Jason Day, whose 8-under was a better score in relation to par than every winning score since Jim Furyk’s in 2003.

When all is said and done at the 2011 U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy will have set numerous records in his triumphant victory over the rest of the field at Congressional Country Club. It’s been a Tiger Woods-esque performance by McIlroy this weekend--well, a performance reminiscent of Woods’ from back when he was piling up his major championship wins.

Of course, Woods didn’t compete in this year’s U.S. Open, but he certainly had to congratulate McIlroy on the victory:

The two came into Sunday a stroke apart, but Henley struggled throughout his back nine, posting five bogeys on his final 11 holes to finish 4-over for the event, while Cantlay put together a birdie on hole No. 17 to conclude at even par and put himself in contention for a top-20 finish.

It’s been an amazing summer for the 18-year-old freshman, who’s also won the Nicklaus Award and helped win the Palmer Cup.

PGA fans have watched the first three-and-a-half rounds of the 2011 US Open in shock at Rory McIlroy’s performance, but it’s been impressive to see the young player remain hard on himself after less-than-ideal shots. After one hole in a previous round, he even plucked his ball from the cup and hurled it into the water in disgust.

A common reaction to accomplishing things nobody has ever done before, of course.

It seems all but decided that Rory McIlroy will win the 2011 U.S. Open. But might he also rewrite some of golf’s record books? Here’s a look at several of the records McIlroy might be able to equal or break on the back nine at Congressional Golf Club after his 2-under front nine pushed him to 16-under for the tournament.

Lowest score in relation to par in a major championship, 72 holes: 19-under, Tiger Woods, 2000 British Open. McIlroy was 16-under as he made the turn at the U.S. Open, and moved to 17-under with a birdie on the 10th.

This much is clear: Rory McIlroy is either going to make history by running away with the 2011 U.S. Open or by blowing up in one of the biggest collapses golf has ever seen. And that second thing isn’t very likely.

McIlroy burst from the gate on Sunday with two birdies in the first four holes of his final round, pushing him to 15-under and 16-under and making him the only golfer to ever reach either score in relation to par in a U.S. Open.

UPDATE: NBC has since apologized.

↵With the 2011 U.S. Open so close to the nation’s capital at Congressional Golf Club in Maryland, NBC has been draping its coverage of the event in the American flag all week. On Sunday, it backfired when an introduction to final round coverage included some of the Pledge of Allegiance but not the words “under God.”

The best chance any dark horse had at wresting the 2011 U.S. Open from Rory McIlroy entering Sunday’s final round at Congressional Golf Club was to shoot a stellar number and hope that McIlroy would collapse.

Few are doing that first part.

With Rory McIlroy way out in front at the 2011 U.S. Open, all that’s left for the back of the pack to do is play for positioning. And while Bae Sang-Moon is doing that well, Phil Mickelson is struggling just as he has in the rest of his week at Congressional Golf Club.

Bae, an Asian Tour professional since 2004, is 5-under on his day through 13 holes, moving from a tie for 64th at 8-over to begin the day to a tie for 40th at 3-over. The 2011 U.S. Open is the first PGA Tour major in which Bae has made the cut, and he’s looking good for having Sunday’s best round.

Rory McIlroy is 18 holes away from getting the monkey off his back and shaking his memories of the meltdown at The Masters. McIlroy has run away from the field at the 2011 US Open and holds an eight-shot lead over Y.E. Yang, his playing partner for Saturday’s third round. McIlroy has been nearly flawless this week, carding only one bogey and a double bogey through 54 holes as Congressional Country Club has swallowed up the rest of the field.

McIlroy carded a 3-under 68 on Saturday to get to 14-under for the tournament. After recording a double-bogey to finish Friday’s second round, McIlroy finished with four birdies and only one bogey on Saturday as he stretched his advantage. With good scores to be had on the rain-softened course, he was still able to give himself a comfortable lead ahead of the final round.