2011 U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy Is Playing a Game with Which We Are Not Familiar

I was not alive in the 1940s and 1950s, but now I know what it must have been like watching Ben Hogan play golf.

When Jack Nicklaus won the 1963 Masters, Bobby Jones famously remarked, "Jack is playing an entirely different game—a game with which I'm not familiar."

Well, the same could be said about Rory McIlroy during the first two rounds of the 2011 U.S. Open.

McIlroy is not decimating Congressional with length the way Tiger Woods did at the 1997 Masters and 2000 U.S. Open.

Although he’s putting well, he’s not making everything he sees from inside of 20 feet.

McIlroy simply put forth quite possibly the best display of ball-striking I have ever seen in my life through the first 36 holes of the 111th U.S. Open.

What makes McIlroy’s 36-hole score even more amazing is that the rest of the field’s scores would suggest that they are indeed playing a major championship-caliber golf course.

The average score through 36 holes is around five-over-par, which means that McIlroy is 16 strokes better than the field average.

In the 111-year history of the U.S. Open, McIlroy is the first man to reach double digits under par during the first two rounds, and he needed only 26 holes to do it.

In the 111-year history of the U.S. Open, no man has had larger than a six-stroke lead after 36 holes. McIlroy currently has an eight-stroke lead.

In the 111-year history of the U.S. Open, no player has ever reached 13-under-par. McIlroy hit the 13-under-par mark on his 35th hole.

In the 111-year history of the U.S. Open, no player has ever scored below 132 through 36 holes. McIlroy just posted 131 through 36 holes.

This guy is truly playing a game with which most are unfamiliar. In fact, he’s playing a game that has not been seen in the 111-year history of this national championship.

There are still 36 grueling holes left in this championship, and McIlroy doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to closing the door on majors. However, he may have built himself a large enough cushion that even with some kind of meltdown over the weekend, he may still win this thing.

Without a meltdown, McIlroy may wind up putting forth the greatest performance in the history of the U.S. Open.

They say that the best predictor of future success is winning a major championship at a young age.

Well, if that’s true, what does it mean if a guy not only wins the U.S. Open, but shatters just about every scoring record there is?

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For more 2011 U.S. Open coverage, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for U.S. Open scores and leaderboard updates, and the latest news and analysis.

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