McIlroy said Saturday his tournament has been “pretty average” — he said one positive is he’s driven the ball as well as he has in a while.

Even during a frustrating week, Rory McIlroy managed to make more golf history. The five-time major champ was never in contention at the U.S. Open, needing a closing birdie on Friday at Oakmont just to make the cut.

Through six holes of his second round on Friday, McIlroy sat eight-over par with the cut projected to come into play at seven-over. The reigning Masters champion was forced to fight his way into the weekend at Oakmont Country Club outside Pittsburgh — and it really became a battle.