One of the players chasing Rory McIlroy in the US Open admits: "he has more talent in his pinky than I have in my whole body".

American Brandt Snedeker, on the leaderboard at two under par and yet nine adrift of the 22-year-old Ulsterman, said: "As a competitor I'd love to see myself win.

"As a fan of golf I'd love to see him win. I think anybody who makes people want to tune in and watch is a great ambassador and Rory McIlroy makes people want to do that.

"He's a great kid, got a great head on his shoulders, which is very hard to do with his lifestyle.

"You couldn't ask for a better kid to be out there representing the game of golf.

"I hope he keeps doing what he's been doing and keeps playing great because it makes us all want to beat him.

"If he keeps playing the way he's playing we're all playing for second place.

"You're trying to shoot the lowest number you can. I personally won't look at the leaderboard all weekend because there's no point.

"If I had played my best golf I could be at seven or eight under max. He would have beat me by four and I'm sure he left some out there.

"He's that kind of talent - everybody knows it. It's great to see him do that, especially on the heels of The Masters."