Rory McIlroy lets his golf do the talking with strong start at US Open

• McIlroy's three-under-par 67 propels him up leaderboard
• I've just got to keep it going,' says four-time major winner

There is precious little that could switch the discussion around golf from matters of Saudi Arabia, a rebel tour and the resulting grisly civil war. A Rory McIlroy success at this US Open is, however, among the topics that would trigger even a brief change of theme. So far, so good.

On day one at the Country Club there were flashes of McIlroy brilliance and flashes of McIlroy frustration. A three-under-par 67 was sufficient to tie the clubhouse lead before the afternoon wave took to the course. From that group, the Canadian Adam Hadwin emerged to sit at the leaderboard's summit at minus four.