Win or lose Rory McIlroy continues to be the biggest story in golf because despite super-human achievement, he is only human, writes Iain Carter.

Will he talk today? Will he not? — was energy wasted Sunday. McIlroy didn’t boycott the press as he’d done after six of his last seven rounds at major championships, the most prominent battle in the surreal press-vs.

Rory McIlroy won The Masters and has been performing poorly in the majors since, especially at the US Open. He knows that has to change.

Rory McIlroy's U.S. Open week was strange and at times standoffish. On Sunday, though, things looked different.

Rory McIlroy’s stay in the U.S. Open field nearly lasted just two days. But a birdie on the 18th hole salvaged his second round (2-over) to get him through two days at 6-under and in a tie for 45th at Oakmont Country Club, barely sneaking past the cutline nine years after he missed the cut the last time the major was held at the course.

Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy had a disappointing first round at the US Open and got off to an even worse start in the second.