Watch: Rory McIlroy goes 'full Sergio' with furious mid-round tantrum at US Open

Four birdies, two tantrums, one bogey and, for the second time in as many months, a fine start to a major for Rory McIlroy. No doubt, his first-round 67 in the 122nd Open here at the Country Club will essentially be remembered for him going “full Sergio” in a bunker, but it might actually have far greater importance in the context of his mission to end an eight-year barren run.

On three-under, McIlroy, 33, was at one stage holding the early clubhouse lead alongside unheralded Englishman Callum Tarren, Swede David Lingmerth and American Joel Dahmen.

Of course, this is too early for McIlroy’s multitude of admirers to pop any corks in celebration of an imminent fifth major. After all, four weeks ago he opened his USPGA challenge with a 65 and proceeded to finish eighth.

Yet there can be no doubt that McIlroy is in form and that his putting is so hot his golf glove should be made of asbestos. If the hole continues to look this big to him, then he will fill the void that stretches back to the 2014 USPGA.

Worst things first, however. On the fifth (his 14th), McIlroy’s tee-shot ended up in a horrid position in the gnarly rough above the bunker and all he could manage was a hack-out that flew into another bunker 10 yards ahead.

McIlroy got up and down from there for a Seve-like par save, but by then social media was abuzz with his antics that evoked the image of another fiery Spaniard (watch video below).

After his second shot, McIlroy angrily smashed his club into the sand, not once but twice. McIlroy later explained this rather extreme reaction. “It's hard not to get frustrated because I'm walking up there looking at my ball and going like, just come back into the bunker,” he said. “The thickest rough on the course is around the edges of the bunkers.

“So I was sort of cursing the [US Open organisers] USGA... but it's one of those things that happens here and not really anywhere else. You just have to accept it. But it was a driveable par four, you're thinking of making birdie, and all of a sudden you're scrambling for par.”