Rory McIlroy returns to Shinnecock Hills for the US Open as a transformed player compared to his previous visits. The world No 2 emphasizes patience as his primary strategy, learning from past mistakes at this demanding Long Island course. His opening-round 80 in 2018 led to an early exit, but McIlroy believes his evolved approach can yield better results.

After a dominant wire-to-wire victory at Congressional in 2011, McIlroy struggled with consistency at the US Open. He managed just one top-10 finish in his next seven attempts, highlighting the tournament's unique challenges. However, his recent form shows marked improvement with two runner-up finishes and six top-10s in the subsequent seven championships.

European players have captured the season's first two majors, with McIlroy's Masters triumph followed by Aaron Rai's PGA Championship upset. This Shinnecock Hills layout favors a more European style of test according to McIlroy, featuring wide fairways and challenging green complexes that reward strategic play over pure power.

Despite ranking poorly in driving accuracy at recent majors, McIlroy still contends due to superior course management. Sky Sports analyst Paul McGinley notes the wider fairways at Shinnecock should reduce pressure on McIlroy's driver, potentially unlocking his best US Open performance since his 2011 breakthrough.