Sir Nick Faldo says there’s a big mistake Rory McIlroy keeps making at the US Open despite strong start

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Rory McIlroy is firmly in contention at the US Open after keeping well in the mix during round two.

McIlroy carded a 72 to leave him at three under par going into the weekend as he failed to build on his excellent opening round 65 to allow others to catch up and get around him.

However, in the main, McIlroy will be happy to still be in contention for the win as a number of players struggled to really pull away on day two.

Pinehurst No.2 proved as tricky as ever as the rapid greens, false fronts and tricky pin positions caused chaos at times.

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For McIlroy, it was a case of not being able to buy a putt really. Indeed, on another day, he might have been two to three shots better off.

However, watching McIlroy’s game, golfing legend Nick Faldo has still claimed the Northern Irishman is making avoidable mistakes.

Why Sir Nick Faldo is still not happy with Rory McIlroy at the US Open

Speaking on Sky Sports during McIlroy’s second round, Faldo praised the 34-year-old but at the same time, suggested he has more to do.

“I flew in yesterday and the first shot I see, he has hit a beautiful shot on 11, he has a gap wedge in hand and he misses the green. It has been going on way too much,” Faldo commented.

“He has just got to find a way to slow this down. He drives the ball so beautifully and he’s a great thinker but he knows the weekend will be tough.

“They want it just in the red to win it. So he is right there. You know it is going to be a game of survival. It is highly unlikely anyone is going to scream out there so you have to be really smart and don’t waste any shots.”

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McIlroy will go into the third round tomorrow among the leaders, with the likes of Ludvig Aberg and Patrick Cantlay ahead of him.

Others, such as Bryson DeChambeau and Matthieu Pavon are also in contention in what is sure to be a crucial day.

Whether McIlroy can heed any of Faldo’s advice, remains to be seen.