US Open – 20 Top Triumphs and Upsets to Remember

#10: Two months after experiencing heartbreak at the 2011 Masters, Rory McIlroy found major redemption at Congressional.

When it comes to major triumphs, the best ones seem to fall into one of two categories: they were either especially dominant or especially dramatic. Rory McIlroy’s 2011 US Open win certainly falls into the former group. The 22-year-old went wire-to-wire at Congressional Country Club and set tournament scoring records along the way, cementing his status as a top-tier player.

Just two months before, McIlroy had been in a good position to win the Masters, but his now-famous back nine meltdown ruined his chances. This time around, he wasn’t going to let anything keep him from major glory – the Ulsterman led by three shots after the first round, by six after the second and by eight after the third.

The final round was a coronation; the lead was insurmountable, and McIlroy cruised to an eight-shot win over runner-up Jason Day, setting new 72-hole and relative-to-par scoring records. He and Robert Garrigus became just the fifth and sixth players in history to score under par in all four rounds at a US Open.

Next: 1966: Billy Casper