McIlroy Struggles with Driver Heading into US Open at Oakmont

Rory McIlroy, currently ranked world number two, is preparing to compete in the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont amid ongoing challenges with his driver and form since winning the Masters in April, which completed his career Grand Slam. Despite recent struggles, including missing the cut at the Canadian Open and a tie for 47th at the PGA Championship after his driver was found non-conforming, McIlroy has made progress on his swing and driver selection and is optimistic about his chances this week. Oakmont's reputation as one of golf's toughest courses, with dense rough and fast, sloping greens, has tested McIlroy, who described his initial practice round as an 11-over-par 81 but welcomed softer conditions following rain that made the course more playable. McIlroy acknowledged the difficulty of regaining motivation after a major win but emphasized his focus on upcoming events like the U.S. Open, The Open at Portrush, and the Ryder Cup. He also reflected on his past struggles at Oakmont, including missing the cut in 2016, and aims to join the exclusive group of golfers who have won the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year. Throughout, McIlroy has worked to adjust his driver setup and swing mechanics, learning to manage the idiosyncrasies of different clubs to improve his performance.