Rory McIlroy roars at the U.S. Open

Two months ago 22-year-old Rory McIlroy imploded on the back nine at Augusta National. On Saturday, at the 2011 U.S. Open Championship, he was out for redemption--and man did he look good doing it.

Inking a 3-under-par 68 on what is hailed as golf's toughest test, McIlroy rewrote history. His third round 14-under 199 finish now stands as the 54-hole scoring record at the U.S. Open, beating out Jim Furyk's 54-hole score by one stroke.

But he wasn't the only one who aced Congressional Country Club.

According to the Associated Press there were 26 rounds under par, a record for the third round of the U.S. Open, and the 72 players made a total of 224 birdies.

McIlroy started out the day with four straight pars and after sticking his approach on the par-4 5th, he rolled in his first birdie of the day. The crowd edged him on with every shot chanting, "Let's go Rory, let's go!"

"Overall, I'm very happy with the way I played today," McIlroy told the AP. "Now, I just have to do that for 18 more holes."

His only glitch came at the par-3 10th when he carded his only bogey of the day after overshooting his tee shot into a back bunker, but he immediately recovered on No. 11 draining a birdie to get him back to 13-under-par.

Throughout the day McIlroy was poised--a man on a mission.

And by the time his last put fell at Congressional, the young lad from Northern Ireland had left the field in his dust with an 8-shot lead (double his lead going into Sunday's round at the Masters).

All he needs is just one more day. He'll have his chance again and this time, I think he's got it.