Rory McIlroy hit a huge 392-yard drive in the first round of the US Open that almost landed on a busy crosswalk.
The Northern Irishman is in action at the Oakmont Country Club, where he is bidding to win the major for the first time since 2011.
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McIlroy is off to a promising start in PennsylvaniaCredit: Getty
McIlroy’s driver has drawn plenty of attention recently, with the Masters champion testing out several options after his previous model was ruled to be non-conforming at the PGA Championship.
Results have been varied, and the 36-year-old revealed he would be seeking a new model ahead of the US Open, after missing the cut by 12 shots at the Canadian Open last week.
But McIlroy certainly looks to have mastered the club now, putting any concern to bed in spectacular fashion in Pennsylvania.
Playing on the back nine in Round 1, he used his new driver for the first time at the par-5 12th hole.
And few could have expected just how well this would go, as he unleashed a tee shot that travelled a staggering 392 yards.
The enormous effort was McIlroy’s longest measured drive of the season, while it also nearly reached a busy crosswalk.
Things soon got even better for the five-time major champion, as he then made the green with a fine approach shot, and two-putted for birdie to give him an early share of the lead at two-under-par.
McIlroy has kept up his strong start, and currently sits tied-for-seventh on one-under-par, behind early leader JJ Spaun, who has raced ahead on four-under-par.
The golfer’s exploits with his driver come just days after he opened up on his recent trials with the club, where he confirmed he would be using a familiar model this week.
Speaking in his pre-tournament press conference, McIlroy explained he had been feeling more optimistic after getting to grips with his new piece of equipment.
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McIlroy unleashed a huge driver on the 12th hole at the US OpenCredit: Credit: X: @sleepergolf
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The tee shot travelled so far it that only just missed the crosswalkCredit: Credit: X: @sleepergolf
He said: “Hitting a lot of drivers, every driver sort of has its own character and you’re trying to manage the misses. It’s definitely a little bit of both.
“I feel like, as the last few weeks go, I think I learnt a lot on Thursday and Friday last week and did a good bit of practice at home and feel like I’m in a better place with everything going into this week.
When asked what he had gained from practising with drivers in the build-up to the major, McIlroy offered a simple explanation.
Laughing, he quipped: “I learned that I wasn’t using the right driver!”
McIlroy is looking to rediscover his best form at the US Open, having endured a slump since his historic Masters victory in April.
The world no.2 became just the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam with victory in Augusta.
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Rory McIlroy’s 2011 US Open triumph was his first Major titleCredit: AFP
He finished in tied 47th at the PGA Championship last month, before a difficult Canadian Open campaign last week.
McIlroy then appeared to cast doubt over his US Open chances when he revealed he had hit an 11-over round of 81 in practice at Oakmont.
But after a strong start to the third major of the year, McIlroy will now surely be more confident of tasting glory in the tournament he first won as a 22-year-old in 2011.