McIlroy does the Rocky thing on eve of U.S. Open

AP

ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) — Turns out Rory McIlroy decided to do the Rocky thing before teeing off in the U.S. Open.

The world's No. 2 ranked player said earlier this week that he was "half-thinking" of heading into the City of Brotherly Love to the spot where the fictional Rocky Balboa jumped up and down triumphantly after running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

On Wednesday the 24-year-old from Northern Ireland tweeted: "Can't come to Philadelphia and not see the 'Rocky' steps!!" along with a photo, shot from behind, that shows a jubilant figure with arms raised Rocky-style and wearing a Phillies baseball cap backward.

The museum is about 10 miles from the Merion Golf Club, where McIlroy and the rest of the U.S. Open field begin play Thursday.