2024 US Open: Top 10 power rankings at Pinehurst

Rory McIlroy is among the contingent in this week’s field who teed it up at Pinehurst in 2014. While never a factor in contending for the title, in part due to Martin Kaymer’s mastery, McIlroy battled to T-23rd (71-68-74-73) and was near the top 10 heading to the weekend.

“...it looks quite linksy,” McIlroy said in a 2014 ASAP Sports transcription. “You've got the native areas off the sides of the fairways. The fairways are getting firm and fast. Greens are obviously very undulating. They throw the balls all different directions. And you're going to have a very imaginative and inventive short game to get the ball going. I think it will be a test for all aspects of your game. It's a long golf course, I think the longer hitters are going to have a little bit of an advantage on some holes.”

McIlroy’s 2014 result at Pinehurst rings similar to his 2024 major results. He took T-22nd at the Masters and T-12th at the PGA Championship. Solid finishes, but in neither did he have a chance to win on the weekend.

He will always have his four major championship victories to lean on from 2011-14. His Wikipedia page is awash with yellow, meaning he rarely no-shows at golf’s big four events. The Northern Irishman made the cut in his last five major starts, as well as in 12 of the last 13.

Recent form shows T-15th last week at the Memorial Tournament. Rounds of 70-71-73 to open was a solid showing in demanding conditions at Muirfield Village, but a Sunday 76 to drop four spots down the leaderboard was a bit of a disappointing finish. However, he was out of the title chase and likely had Carolina on the mind at that point.

Through June 2, the 35-year-old ranks third on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total (1.723), ranking only behind this year’s two major champions in Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.

McIlroy is fourth in SG: Tee-to-Green (1.421) and third in SG: Off-the-Tee (.861).

A bit surprising to me was seeing McIlroy 13th in bogey avoidance (12.66%). That tends to be an issue for him at majors as costly mistakes at inopportune times have doomed his chances at winning major No. 5.

I see him getting in the mix to win at Pinehurst No. 2, but his quest will fall a few places short.