US Open / Steven Rawlings / 17 June 2011 /

He's off again! McIlroy roars to the front with an immaculate 65 but can he stay there this time?

Different players find different ways to prepare for the rigours of a gruelling major. Some practice relentlessly, some have an easy week at home and now young Rory McIlroy has hit upon a new system...

To his utmost credit, McIlroy decided to prepare for this week by visiting Haiti as part of his work as a UNICEF sporting ambassador. Many an old cynic will have raised an eyebrow at the ideology of youth and wondered whether it was the right thing to do so close to such a big event. I can't see it catching on and I certainly haven't heard of any other players emulating him any time soon but fair play to him. One thing is certain; it hasn't done young Rors any harm! Yesterday's immaculate 65 has left him three shots clear and it's the third time in four majors that he's held sway after day one!

Of course the big question now is can he hang on this time? At the Open Championship last July he followed an incredible first round 63 with a dreadful second round of 80 - before rallying to finish 3rd. After a first round 65 at Augusta in April he fared much better, holding onto his lead right up until halfway through Sunday but the whole world seems to know about his awful collapse that day.

So what about this time? I thought he was too short before the off and I think he's still too short now. Those major wobbles weren't isolated incidents and until he can show more bottle in-contention I'll continue to swerve him. Sooner or later he'll get the job done but I've made the huge, and possibly reckless and wrong, assumption that it won't be this week. If he doesn't win, there's plenty of value to be had. There isn't much value in any of my pre-event picks though!

At around 5.00pm yesterday I thought I was in a strong position. Pre-event favourites, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald had already flopped and Bubba Watson, who I'd felt was the best value in the line-up, stood over an eagle putt to get to -4 and was matched at just [10.0]. He left that putt in the jaws and then bogeyed his last three holes!

Phil Mickelson then started his round by dunking his tee-shot into the water on the 10th hole before going on to struggle the whole way round - eventually shooting a three-over par round 74. I know its early days and I know he was in a worse position after day one last year before shooting 66 to get right back into it but I think he's out of it already. I hope I'm wrong but a deficit of nine shots is huge.

2009 winner Lucas Glover trailed by five after day one and Lee Janzen was seven back in 1998 but as a general rule of thumb - it's very difficult to make up ground in this event.

I've already got involved in-running, starting with my old mate Y E Yang. I had considered backing him before the off as he always looks over-priced to me but he hadn't been in sparkling form. Once I could see he was in good nick I jumped aboard at [80.0] and given he now trades at [24.0] I'm quite pleased I did.

Zach Johnson's level par 71 yesterday was his best opening salvo at any US Open. He'd been in cracking form prior to last week's flop at the St Jude Classic and he looked too big at [100.0] last night, as did Louis Oosthuizen at [38.0].

Last year's Open Championship winner opened up with a two-under par 69. Can he reel in Rory again?

So that's three major winners in-touch added and I tried to back Angel Cabrera too. My back at [95.0] was clearly too ambitious last night and I haven't as yet got him onside but I'll be watching him closely today.

You have to go right back to Corey Pavin in 1995 to find a winner that wasn't within two of the lead at halfway in this event so I'll be looking to shape my portfolio further today, and I'll also be hoping that young Rors can slow up a bit!

The Punter's Pre-event US Open picks

Phil Mickelson @ [18.0]
KJ Choi @ [36.0]
Bubba Watson @ [55.0]
Ernie Els @ [110.0]
Jonathan Byrd @ [160.0]
Mark Wilson @ [180.0]
Peter Hanson @ [190.0]
Ben Crane @ [240.0]
Davis Love III @ [350.0]
Chad Campbell @ [410.0]

In-running plays

Louis Oosthuizen @ [38.0] - Day one
Y E Yang @ [80.0] - Day one
Zach Johnson @ [100.0] - Day one

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