McIlroy seizes command at US Open

The 22-year-old Ulsterman became the first man to reach 13-under par at any stage in US Open history with birdies at the 16th and 17th holes but he found the water with his second shot at the 18th to deny himself even more history.

McIlroy finished 36 holes at Congressional Country Club on 11-under par 131, reaching the clubhouse with an eight-stroke edge on nearest rival Yang Yong-Eun of South Korea, who had yet to begin his second round.

"I have to keep it going over the next couple of days," McIlroy said. "I\'m halfway there, but there is still a long way to go."

Magical McIlroy, seeking his first major title at age 22, holed out a spectacular eagle on the par-4 eighth, making a 113-yard wedge shot, and through 17 holes had a round for the ages.

"It has been very, very good," McIlroy said. "It\'s very nearly the best I can play."

The Northern Ireland prodigy broke the old record 36-hole total of 132 set in 2009 by American Ricky Barnes, but had he closed with a par he would have broken the major 36-hole record of 130 by Nick Faldo at the 1992 British Open.

McIlroy has squandered first-round leads with nightmare rounds of 80 at both last April\'s Masters and last year\'s British Open and the mishap on 18 after pulling his tee shot left was a brutal reminder that his work is far from done.

"It\'s a big challenge," McIlroy said. "Every time I keep myself leading in majors, I\'m getting more and more comfortable.

"You are going to be comfortable when you are hitting great shots."

McIlroy broke a US Open record by reaching 13-under par, one better than the old mark set by Gil Morgan in 1992 and matched by Tiger Woods in 2000. He also became the fastest in US Open history to reach 10-under, needing only 26 holes.

If McIlroy can maintain his margin at the end of the round, he will own the largest 36-hole lead in US Open history, bettering the six-under record set by Woods in 2000 at Pebble Beach on his way to a record-smashing 15-stroke rout, the most lopsided triumph in major golf history.

McIlroy also has a chance to match the all-time 36-hole lead in a major, the nine-stroke edge of Henry Cotton from the 1934 British Open.

World No. 1 Luke Donald of England and fellow ranking leaders Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, who began the day nine or 10 strokes back, were also among the afternoon starters hoping to get within eight of McIlroy, who vowed to be patient but aggressive over the weekend.

"You have to try to play to your spots and be aggressive in going for the spots you pick," McIlroy said.

On a morning when no rival could mount a challenge, McIlroy was astonishing and he grabbed a stranglehold on the event with his amazing swing from the eighth fairway.

McIlroy launched the ball to the back fringe of the green and watched from the fairway as the ball slowly rolled back 25 feet toward the cup, curled its way slightly left and dropped in for an eagle two as the crowd roared.

Lifting his arms into the air, McIlroy looked skyward and smiled as playing partner Phil Mickelson, a four-time major champion and five-time US Open runner-up, could only applaud in amazement at the feat by his playing partner.

McIlroy birdied the par-4 fourth, coaxed a hefty-breaking short par putt into the cup at five and birdied the par-5 sixth to reach eight-under overall, setting the stage for his fabulous eagle.

McIlroy followed the eagle with a sand-save par at nine, a testy six-foot par putt at 11 and another birdie at the par-4 14th which put him eight strokes clear of the field.

Then came the par-5 16th. McIlroy drove the green in two, missed a 12-foot eagle bid and settled for a tap-in birdie.

McIlroy fired a six-under par 65 on Thursday to grab a three-shot lead over reigning Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa and Yang, Asia\'s first men\'s major winner after his 2009 PGA Championship triumph.

No first-round US Open leader since 1933 had a larger lead than McIlroy, who topped the leaderboard after 18 holes for the third time in four majors.

McIlroy opened with a 65 at the Masters in April, becoming the youngest first-round leader in Augusta National history at age 21 although he shared the spot with Spain\'s Alvaro Quiros.

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