McIlroy buries Masters meltdown to win US Open

BETHESDA – The proof of Rory McIlroy’s remarkable resiliency was the US Open trophy at his side on Sunday and the pages of a record book that he rewrote over four mind-boggling days.

For his father, it was a phone call right after a crushing collapse at Augusta National two months earlier, when McIlroy shot an 80 in the final round to blow a big lead.Gerry McIlroy, who worked three jobs to support his son’s junior golf, was home in Northern Ireland when the phone rang some 20 minutes after it was over.’I said, Rory, are you OK, son?’ Because you always fear for your kids,’ the father said Sunday. ‘And he says, ‘Dad, I have no problem with it at all. I hit a few bad shots. And if you play golf, then you’ll understand that.’’Fast forward to Sunday, and a flag-draped Gerry was in tzhe thick of a momentous celebration at Congressional, outside Washington.The 22-year-old McIlroy buried that Masters memory the way he buried his competition in a breathtaking performance filled with the promise of more majors to come.’I felt like I got over the Masters pretty quickly. I kept telling you guys that, and I don’t know if you believed me or not. But here you go,’ McIlroy said, gesturing to the shiny prize on the table. ‘Nice to prove some people wrong.’Four days of flawless golf finally ended when McIlroy polished off a 2-under 69 to shatter US Open records that simply defy logic at the major known as the toughest test in golf.The combined scores of the previous 10 US Open champions were 14-under par.McIlroy was 16 under.He finished eight shots ahead of Jason Day, whose score of 8-under 276 would have been enough to win 26 of the past 30 US Opens.’It’s just phenomenal golf,’ Day said. ‘He lapped the field, and for such a young age, how mature he is. Golf right now is in a really, really good spot where Rory McIlroy is right now.’McIlroy nearly holed an impossible putt from the front of the 18th green to within a foot, and it was then he finally saw his father. He smiled and shook a clenched fist, and after tapping in for par, walked off the green and into his arms.’Happy Father’s Day,’ McIlroy told him.It was the second straight US Open title for Northern Ireland, and defending champion Graeme McDowell walked back across the bridge to the 18th green to embrace the new winner.’You’re a legend,’ McDowell told him.Not many would dispute that now, not after a week like this.Golf had been looking for a star ever since Woods’ personal life and formidable game spiraled out of control 18 months ago. This was supposed to be the ‘U.S. Wide Open’ because parity had taken over.McIlroy, who goes to No. 4 in the world, now stands above everyone going into the final two majors of the year.’Nothing this kid does ever surprises me,’ McDowell said. ‘He’s the best player I’ve ever seen. I didn’t have a chance to play with Tiger when he was in his real pomp, and this guy is the best I’ve ever seen. Simple as that. He’s great for golf. He’s a breath of fresh air for the game, and perhaps we’re ready for golf’s next superstar.’ – Nampa-AP