It is easy to forget that Rory McIlroy is already in the history books.
These days, stories about the Northern Irishman at major championships tend to focus on his lack of them since 2014.
But while McIlroy remains stuck on four, which puts him only joint-21st among the game’s greats, he still holds bragging rights at the US Open.
Back in 2011, a 22-year-old McIlroy announced himself on the major championship stage by winning at Congressional in record-breaking fashion.
He beat Jason Day by eight shots and reports at the time claimed McIlroy broke 12 US Open records in the process.
Speaking ahead of last year’s tournament at LA Country Club, McIlroy admitted his game peaked that week.
“It does feel like a lifetime ago,” McIlroy said.
“And I honestly think it’s the best week of ball-striking I’ve ever had. I don’t know whether I’ve hit the ball better than that week.
“I go back and I watch that week quite a lot just because of how well I hit it, but also because, and this is what makes me feel old, I’ve just started to remember watching the highlights rather than remembering actually what happened.
“But It’s great to have your name on a trophy like this.”
The US Open is traditionally the toughest test in golf but McIlroy made a mockery of that in 2011.
And as the 35-year-old heads to Pinehurst looking to end that major drought, he still holds the following five records from that week, some of which may never be broken…
Lowest-ever 72-hole total
McIlroy shot all four rounds in the 60s (65-66-68-69), something almost unheard of at the US Open.
Jack Nicklaus’ record of 272 strokes, set in 1980, was smashed by McIlroy, who finished on a total of 268.
Martin Kaymer and Gary Woodland have since move to within three shots after winning with totals of 271 in 2014 and 2019 respectively.
But even after record-breaking low scoring in the opening rounds of the 2023 US Open, McIlroy’s total still remains untouched.
Most strokes under-par
Many made parallels to Tiger Woods’ famous victory at Pebble Beach in 2000, where the American legend won by 15 shots.
McIlroy was not that dominant over the field, but he still broke Woods’ 12-under par record, breezing past it in the second round.
He ended up on 16-under par, a record now shared with Brooks Koepka, who matched it with his 2017 win at Erin Hills.
Most strokes under-par at any point
McIlroy is the only player in history to reach 17-under par at a US Open.
A bogey on his penultimate hole in 2011 would see him drop back to 16-under par.
But nobody before or since has ever got to that mark.
Lowest 54-hole total
McIlroy remains the only player in history to play three rounds at a US Open in less than 200 shots.
His total of 199 eclipsed the record set by Jim Furyk in 2003 by a single shot.
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Largest 36-hole lead
McIIroy’s triumph at the 2011 US Open came just weeks after his infamous meltdown at the Masters.
The Northern Irishman took a four-shot lead into the final round at Augusta and ended up shooting 80 on Sunday in scenes which were painful to watch.
Luckily, he was already ahead by six after two rounds of the US Open that year.
It remains the largest lead ever built after 36 holes at the championship.
