Rory McIlroy shares what he really thinks of Oakmont after playing practice round there ahead of the US Open

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Rory McIlroy is one of the favourites to win the US Open at Oakmont next week.

McIlroy has won three times this year with his victories coming at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The PLAYERS Championship and of course, The Masters.

After his win at Augusta National, it seemed like the 35-year-old winning the Player of the Year award was a mere formality.

However, the narrative has since shifted, with Scottie Scheffler on a run of three wins in four starts, and McIlroy having received criticism after his non-conforming driver controversy at the PGA Championship, and his subsequent refusal to speak to the media.

The Northern Irishman will be hoping to get his season back on track firstly at the Canadian Open this week, where he is in danger of missing the cut.

And then he can focus on trying to win the US Open at the incredibly difficult Oakmont next week.

However, will his game be ready to successfully take on the challenge presented by Oakmont?

Rory McIlroy’s thoughts on Oakmont after practice round ahead of the US Open

McIlroy played a practice round at Oakmont on Monday and endured an incredibly difficult day.

The Masters champion hit a three-wood into the par-three 8th hole and made a bogey. He also triple bogeyed the second hole, despite ‘hitting three good shots’.

If he is to contend at the US Open next week, let alone win, he will need to seriously sharpen up his game.

McIlroy spoke to the Golf Channel, and admitted that Oakmont will represent a brutal test for him and his fellow tour pros.

He said, “It is a brutal test. I think everyone is going to have to pack their patience and just accept that whatever happens, happens. It is always a difficult golf course but then you just couple that with the US Open set up. Even par is going to be a really, really good score. You have got to go there and make as many pars as you can and try to keep the doubles and triples off your scorecard. If you do that you will have a good chance.“

What score could win the US Open?

Bryson DeChambeau said that five-over par would be a good score at Oakmont if the wind gets up.

With the greens set to be running close to 15 on the Stimpmeter, there could be some truly atrocious scores at Oakmont next week.

Here are the last nine winning US Open scores at Oakmont:

There’s a good chance that level par will be in with a great chance of winning the US Open next week, and McIlroy will obviously fancy his chances of contending if he’s swinging the club well.

It will be a test of attrition rather than anything else at Oakmont, and only the strongest will survive.