Rory McIlroy finished his opening round at the 108th PGA Championship with a score of 74, a performance he described with a single, colorful expletive. The disappointment stems primarily from consistent issues off the tee, with a recurring miss to the right plaguing his play throughout the day at Aronimink Golf Club.
McIlroy bogeyed each of his final four holes, a "nightmare bogey burst" that turned what was level par with four holes to play into a four-over score. This late collapse means McIlroy, a pre-tournament favorite and two-time PGA Championship winner, faces an uphill battle to make the cut.
Driving Woes Surface Early
The struggles began early, with McIlroy missing the fairway right on the fourth hole, a shot that appeared to set a pattern. This was followed by similar errant drives on the sixth, seventh, and ninth holes. This waywardness off the tee, a part of his game he "prides himself on," led to frustration and, ultimately, a string of dropped shots.
Read More: Bryson DeChambeau's PGA Championship Round 1 Struggles at Aronimink
A Day of Frustration
McIlroy started his round on the 10th tee and was level par through his first 12 holes.
He then carded four consecutive bogeys to conclude his round, a first in his PGA Tour career.
The golfer also expressed displeasure with spectators making noise during his backswing near the 13th green.
Comparisons and Context
While McIlroy battled, Scottie Scheffler found form, reaching red numbers with back-to-back birdies and exhibiting a sharp driver. Other notable players like Bryson DeChambeau also experienced a difficult start, with four bogeys on his opening nine. Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth, however, managed to finish under par.
McIlroy’s opening round performance comes after a recent win at the Masters and a previous issue with a non-conforming driver at a past event, which forced a last-minute switch. He is slated to tee off for his second round on Friday afternoon.
