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U.S. Open: Top 10 power rankings at Winged Foot

By Mike Randleman

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Tony Finau of the United States plays his shot from the third tee during the third round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 06, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Tony Finau of the United States plays his shot from the third tee during the third round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 06, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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BETHESDA, MD – JUNE 19: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland speaks with the media after his eight-stroke during the 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club on June 19, 2011 in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
BETHESDA, MD – JUNE 19: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland speaks with the media after his eight-stroke during the 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club on June 19, 2011 in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

Will wife, Erica, give Rory a week off from diaper duty? The new dad as of  Aug. 31 has had to have been busy as of late, especially as he jetted off right after to collect $960k for a T-8th finish (T-7th gross) at the Tour Championship.

It’s tough timing for someone who couldn’t have imagined he’d still have two majors to play when his first child came.

While fatigue could be an issue for a guy who’s played nine times in 13 weeks since the restart, I can’t keep him out of my top 10.

Outside of his woeful shank into the water Saturday at East Lake, McIlroy played well with scores of 64-71-70-67. This was on the heels of T-12th at U.S. Open style conditions at the BMW Championship.

McIlroy hasn’t been woeful by any stretch since the restart. He’s made six of six cuts and has eight top-50s and three top-12s. But he hasn’t contended.

McIlroy won the WGC-HSBC Champions in fall 2019 amid a run of seven straight top-fives. No one’s momentum was halted by the pandemic more than his.

The 31-year-old still has tons of time to add to his four majors. Yet, his last at the 2014 PGA Championship is beginning to feel more distant. McIlroy’s hall of fame status is locked up, but you know he’d love to get No. 5 and inch back ahead of Brooks Koepka.

McIlroy has made the cut in six of his last seven majors, as well as in 38 of 46 for his career.

His first major came at the 2011 U.S. Open when he obliterated a soggy Congressional Golf Club to the tune of 16-under for an eight-shot win. We can forget how McIlroy has the ability to run away with tournaments when he’s firing on all cylinders.

That was the second of four top-10s in 11 U.S. Open starts. Unfortunately, he’s missed the cut five times, including from 2016-2018. McIlroy bounced back last year to finish T-9th at Pebble Beach.

The key this week is the putter. McIlroy was sixth on the PGA Tour in 2019-2020 in strokes gained off the tee (.702 per round) and tee to green (1.314). SG putting was 122nd (-.071).

It’s a testament to his sweet swing that he contended for the Vardon Trophy, ranking fourth in scoring average (69.219).

I like McIlroy to have a new lease on life and continue on the upward trend he’s shown his last two starts.

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