sport news Here's why Rory McIlroy can rule at Pebble Beach

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Among all the compelling story-lines at this week's US Open at Pebble Beach, we now have an unlikely one: Rory McIlroy as the joint favourite alongside Brooks Koepka — the man going for three wins in a row — and the luckless bridesmaid, Dustin Johnson.

Given the nature of the Northern Irishman's success in the Canadian Open on Sunday, where he romped away from the field for a seven-stroke victory with a final round 61, it is perhaps unsurprising that the bookmakers have reacted accordingly.

But this is the US Open, where Rory has missed the cut for the last three years in a row, never mind contended, where the course set-up is so demanding that Sir Nick Faldo opined recently that McIlroy does not have the patience to win. 

Add in the fact that it is once every blue moon that a player wins the week before a major and then the Grand Slam event itself and why on earth would you make McIlroy joint favourite?

Here are six reasons for McIlroy backers to be cheerful.

After missing the cut the previous week at the Memorial Tournament, McIlroy put the idle weekend to good use and found the missing piece with his driver. On Sunday, he talked about playing with freedom and that stems from having confidence in his weapon of choice once more. 'At the US Open there's always a danger that it can make you play tentatively,' he said. 'But if I've learned anything this week, it is that I'm swinging well enough to go there and play with freedom.'