‘It felt impossible’: McIlroy struggles in practice at Oakmont before US Open

• Masters champion admits problems with motivation

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For an example of how fiendishly difficult Oakmont may play in this, the 125th US Open, take the testimony of Rory McIlroy. The Masters champion visited the venue just outside Pittsburgh at the start of last week on a scouting mission. On Tuesday, he gave a grisly definition of what unfolded.

Last Monday felt impossible," McIlroy said. I birdied the last two holes for 81. It felt pretty good, it didn't feel like I played that badly. It's much more benign right now than it was that Monday. They had the pins in dicey locations and greens were running at 15.5 [on the stimpmeter]. It was nearly impossible. This morning it was a little softer. The pins aren't going to be on 3 or 4% slopes all the time.