LONG WAY BACK FROM HERE

Dreadful finish leaves Mcllroy well adrift of Oakmont leader

- From Andrew Gamble

RORY MCILROY will have to do it the hard way if he is to end his U.S. Open drought after a nightmare finish to his opening round.

McIlroy, the 2011 winner, dropped five shots in as many holes in the Oakmont sun to end up with a four-over 74 having lost six strokes on his back nine.

He was playing alongside Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, the man he beat in a play-off at The Masters in April to become the sixth player to claim the career Grand Slam.

McIlroy struggled for form ahead of the 125th U.S. Open, missing the cut at the Canadian Open and US PGA Championship.