The 2011 U.S. Open has a new leader, and it's a familiar face to anyone who watched high-level golf this year. Rory McIlroy, who led for three rounds at the Masters before collapsing on the final day, has surged to the top of the U.S. Open leaderboard 10 holes into his round. A birdie on 10 put McIlroy at four-under par, one shot ahead of Y.E. Yang and Rory Sabbatini.
McIlory, who is playing with the struggling Phil Mickelson, got things going with a birdie on No. 12 (his third hole of the day). He then also birdied No. 17 and managed to birdie the difficult Par-5 18th before completing a streak of three straight birdies on No. 10.
Sabbatini has also been sharp early, with three straight birdies on No. 12, 13 and 14. He is two holes behind McIlroy. Sergio Garcia is also on the comeback trail and is at two under after barely qualifying for the tournament. Here are your leaders:
- Rory McIlroy: -4 through 10
- Rory Sabbatini: -3 through 8
- Y.E. Yang: -3 (F)
- Louis Oosthulzen: -2 (F)
- Ryan Palmer: -2 (F)
- Bubba Dickerson: -2 through 13
- Sergio Garcia: -2 through 10
- 16 tied at -1