A downcast Rory McIlroy. US Open stream

It was a masterclass in patience for Rory McIlroy on Thursday at Los Angeles Country Club. He hit his first 16 greens in regulation and had a bogey-free round heading to the home hole.

Though the fairways are wider and the rough isn’t quite as thick as some other US Opens, there are still no shortage of brutal lies this week. McIlroy found a hellish lie to the left of the 18th green as he was attempting to get in the clubhouse with a clean card.

What happened next wouldn’t have been shocking if it wasn’t one of the best players of his generation playing such an incredible round. But then this happened:

To McIlroy’s credit, he saved the bogey with a gritty 11-footer to card a five-under 65 and stay just three back of Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler. Surely McIlroy would’ve signed up for a 65 in the opening round of the US Open. But most assuredly, dinner will be clouded with thoughts of that whiffed chip and whether that stroke might end up costing him.