OAKMONT, Pa. — It seems like a lifetime ago that Rory McIlroy knelt on all fours at the 18th green at Augusta National sobbing uncontrollably after reaching his ultimate goal of winning the Masters and completing the career Grand Slam.

The Northern Irishman has endured a gruelling US Open, but battled hard to make the cut at the fiendishly difficult Oakmont Country Club

Rory McIlroy has described his performance at the US Open as "pretty average" as he shot a 74 on Saturday to fall back to 10 over.

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.

A dismal back nine was Rory McIlroy’s undoing as he got off to a slow start at the US Open on Thursday, opening his Oakmont campaign with a +4 finish.His score sat at a competitive -2 come the end of the front nine,

First Rory McIlroy flung an iron down the 12th fairway. Then he used driver to demolish a tee marker on 17. He might not win the sportsmanship award at the U.S.

Rory McIlory recovered from a nightmare start to scrape into the weekend at Oakmont – indeed, he played the last 15 holes in two under – but his second round yesterday will be remembered more for the wrong reasons.

Full schedule and round three groupings as Rory McIlroy paired with Xander Schauffele - Only three players are under par heading into round three at Oakmont