The richly talented Northern Irishman fired a flawless 6-under-par 65 in wind, rain and sunshine on the tree-lined Blue Course to take control of the year's second major.
With a dazzling array of pinpoint approach shots and silky smooth putting, McIlroy ended the day three shots ahead of South Korean Yang Yong-eun and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.
"I played really good out there," McIlroy said.
"I didn't make any mistakes. I drove the ball good and my iron play was good.
"I feel very comfortable with my game at the moment and I'm comfortable on this golf course."
British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, American Ryan Palmer, Brazil's Alexandre Rocha, South Korean Kim Kyung-tae and Australian Scott Hend opened with 69s to be 2-under.
Australian John Senden, defending champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, and former major winners Stewart Cink and Davis Love III were among a group of nine players knotted on 70.
Debutant Jason Day and fellow Australian Aaron Baddeley were one shot further back after shooting even-par rounds of 71.
Rough day
The heavyweight trio of Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer - the world's top three golfers - failed to spark after playing together in the first round.
World number one Donald of Great Britain shot a 3-over 74, second-ranked compatriot Westwood posted a 75 and PGA champion Kaymer of Germany registered a 74.
With Congressional's greens fairly receptive after being softened by morning rain, scoring was overall better than expected in the early going at the year's second major.
"The last few US Opens that I attended, I was over par so I'm very satisfied right now," Yang said after a round featuring birdies on each of the four par-three holes.
"I think that my conservative approach, just trying to hit the greens, has been helpful. I try to make pars, less bogeys, and I've been lucky enough to make a few birdies."
Oosthuizen, who landed his maiden major title with a crushing seven-stroke victory at last year's British Open, was pleasantly surprised by the scoring conditions.
"Everyone expected it to be a bit quicker, the greens, but they're good," he said after recovering from a bogey-bogey start.
"They're running really nice, and you're still getting a lot of good putts out there. There are birdies out there, but if you hit one or two wrong, you can so easily make a bogey."
Phil Mickelson, the American world number five who has been a US Open runner-up five times, struggled off the tee on his way to an opening 74.
- Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, united-states
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