Rory McIlroy faced a challenging second round at the US Open held at Shinnecock Hills, slipping down the leaderboard after a chaotic back nine. Initially positioned as a key contender against second-round leader Wyndham Clark, McIlroy's performance faltered under tough conditions.

Despite missing a six-foot birdie putt early on, it was his struggles with distance control that truly hindered his game. He went over the back of the green on the 10th, 11th, and 12th holes, resulting in bogeys on all three.

In a moment of resurgence, McIlroy managed back-to-back birdies, nearly holing an approach from 108 yards at the 13th and sinking a long 40-footer. However, disaster struck at the 15th when a poor chip led to his first double bogey of the tournament, dropping him to level par and leaving him seven strokes behind Clark, now tied for 10th place.

McIlroy's front nine was more stable, featuring seven pars and two birdies, turning in a score of 33. Nonetheless, his back nine score of 38 resulted in a disappointing one-over par 71.

Reflecting on his performance, McIlroy stated, "If there’s a course where you feel like you still have a chance if you’re seven back going into the weekend, it’s definitely this one." He emphasized the importance of playing smart, avoiding aggressive pin placements, and capitalizing on opportunities to improve his standing as the tournament progresses.