Rory McIlroy, the reigning Masters champion and one of golf’s brightest stars, sent shockwaves through the golfing world with a bold claim following a devastating back-nine collapse during the opening round of the 2025 US Open at Oakmont Country Club. The Northern Irishman, who started the day with high expectations, unraveled spectacularly, dropping six shots in his final eight holes to finish with a four-over-par 74, leaving him eight strokes behind early leader JJ Spaun. McIlroy’s post-round comments, coupled with his refusal to speak to the media, have ignited a firestorm of debate as the golfing community grapples with his latest setback on one of the sport’s toughest stages.

McIlroy began his round alongside Ryder Cup teammates Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, showing flashes of brilliance early on. Starting on the back nine, he carded a bogey-free 33, highlighted by a 25-foot birdie putt at the 11th and a monstrous 392-yard drive at the par-five 12th, which led to a two-putt birdie. His strong play briefly placed him in a share of the lead, raising hopes that he could contend for his second US Open title. However, the wheels came off after the turn. A three-putt bogey at the par-four first sparked a downward spiral, followed by three more bogeys in a four-hole stretch and a crushing double-bogey at the par-three eighth after a wayward tee shot found thick rough. His final score of 74 marked his worst US Open opening round since 2018, a stark contrast to his recent string of six consecutive top-10 finishes at the championship.

In a rare moment of candor, McIlroy made a shocking claim about his performance, reportedly telling his inner circle, “This course chewed me up like a mad tiger.” The vivid metaphor captured the brutality of Oakmont, widely regarded as one of the most punishing venues in golf. JJ Spaun, by contrast, tamed the beast with a bogey-free 66, the joint-lowest first-round score in US Open history at Oakmont, placing him at four-under-par and one shot clear of Thriston Lawrence. Spaun’s precision on the greens, including a 20-foot chip-in at the 10th, stood in sharp contrast to McIlroy’s struggles, particularly his 34 putts, which ranked him outside the top 100 in strokes gained on the green.

The golfing world was quick to react to McIlroy’s collapse and his evocative comment. Fans on social media platforms like X expressed a mix of sympathy and frustration, with many noting the parallels to his heartbreaking runner-up finishes in the past two US Opens. Some praised his honesty, while others questioned whether the pressure of chasing a fifth major title was taking its toll. McIlroy’s refusal to speak to the media post-round, a pattern seen at recent majors, only fueled speculation about his mental state. One observer described his demeanor as “a face like thunder,” underscoring the emotional weight of the day.

McIlroy’s playing partners also struggled, with Shane Lowry carding a nine-over 79 despite an eagle at the third, and Justin Rose posting a seven-over 77. The trio’s combined 20-over total highlighted Oakmont’s unrelenting challenge, where only 10 of 156 players finished under par on day one. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Bryson DeChambeau also faltered, each posting a three-over 73, further illustrating the course’s difficulty.

As McIlroy prepares for the second round, the odds are stacked against him. Only three of the last 26 US Open champions have overcome a deficit of more than four shots after the opening round, and McIlroy’s eight-shot gap to Spaun presents a daunting challenge. Yet, his resilience at this year’s Masters, where he erased a seven-shot deficit, offers hope. Whether he can channel that comeback spirit at Oakmont remains to be seen, but for now, his “mad tiger” comment has added a new layer of intrigue to an already dramatic US Open.