McIlroy ready for 'boring' plan to end major drought

Rory McIlroy's latest chance at ending his decade-long chase of a fifth major title will launch under the brightest of spotlights after he was grouped with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele for the opening two rounds of the US Open.

- Bryan Armen Graham

The Northern Irishman is part of a marquee group featuring the world's top three players at Pinehurst No 2 in the sand hills of North Carolina. Scheffler, the world No 1, won his second Masters title in three years at Augusta in April and secured his fifth victory of the season in the Memorial on Sunday, while the second-ranked Schauffele collected a career-first major at the US PGA last month.

"It's cool to be part of these pairings," McIlroy said. "I think at this point Scottie, Xander and myself are all experienced enough not to get caught up in it, just to go about our business, try to shoot a couple of good scores to put ourselves in position going into the weekend."

Starting tomorrow, McIlroy will take on what is billed as the toughest test in golf on a tailwind of confidence after his second win of the year at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow last month, following it with three successive top-20 finishes.