2022 U.S. Open: Top 10 Power Rankings at The Country Club

No one can get the hype train rolling time and time again like Rory McIlroy. It’s been nearly eight full years since the Northern Irishman won his last of four majors, yet he’s got us believing again after resuscitating the PGA Tour for at least a week with his riveting win over Justin Thomas and other big names last week at the RBC Canadian Open.

He was knocking on the door throughout 2022 with four top-10s, including three in his last four starts. McIlroy finally broke through by taking the 54-hole lead and storming out in 29 going out Sunday en route to the win.

Staring down the PGA Champion, Justin Thomas, had to be a confidence booster.

St. George’s didn’t have the teeth Rory will see at The Country Club, but the thick rough and sloping fairways did make for similar shots he could play this week.

“I thought it was a great week to prepare for the U.S. Open and there’s no better way to prepare yourself for tournament golf than to be in contention, having to hit the shots when you need to,” McIlroy was quoted by ASAP Sports. “And I proved this week that I can do that and hopefully get myself back into position to have to do that again next week.”

McIlroy was plenty motivated to pick off his 21st career PGA Tour victory, nudging him past LIV Golf’s head honcho, Greg Norman, in the record books.

He’ll be motivated once again this week not only to stick it to his rivals abandoning his home tour, but to get back in the major championship winner’s circle.

McIlroy has finished in the top-10 of three of the last four but hasn’t been able to find himself in the cauldron of competition late in the tournament.

Still, he’s made five straight cuts in majors and eight of the last nine. Music to DFS players’ ears. In 13 career U.S. Open starts, McIlroy won his first major in 2011, has eight made cuts and six top-10s.

The 33-year-old leads the PGA Tour in total strokes gained (2.282) and is 31st or better in all SG categories. That 31st is putting (.394), which is up from 66th (.187) a season ago.