Rory McIlroy’s bid for more major glory begins with disappointing opening round at US PGA
McIlroy is bidding to become the most successful European of the modern era
Rory McIlroy’s quest for a seventh major title began in disappointing fashion with an opening round of four over-par at the US PGA Championship.
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The Northern Irishman, who shook off pre-tournament toe troubles, is bidding to become the fifth man since 1960 to win the first two majors of the year after clinching a second successive Masters title last month.
He started that bid from the 10th hole in an eye-catching group alongside two-time major champion Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth – chasing a win this week which would seal a career grand slam.
Rory McIlroy finished with four successive bogeys as he made a disappointing start to his US PGA Championship campaign with a four-over par opening round.
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The 37-year-old, bidding to clinch back-to-back majors after defending his Masters title at Augusta last month, was among the morning starters at Aronimink Golf Club in south-west Philadelphia.
McIlroy unravelled with five bogeys on his back nine to fall away from the clubhouse lead which stood at three under par.
Starting from the 10th hole, McIlroy made a troubled start with an opening bogey, after having to hack out of the rough, but bounced straight back with a birdie at the 11th.
From there it was a run of 1ten straight pars for the Northern Irishman. His birdie putt on 18 fell agonisingly short as he bent double in anguish before he looked on in disbelief as his ball ran back to the front of the first as he made the turn at even par.
The two-time US PGA champion could not find the spark and he showed his frustration as a sloppy drive on the fourth resulted in a second bogey.
Again he hit straight back by sinking a 31-foot putt but it all fell apart from there, with inaccurate tee hosts leading to four bogeys on the spin which decimated his round.
But things can turn in an instant and they did for Rahm, whose pitch from 98 yards took two hops and landed in the hole to make his first ever US PGA Championship eagle and draw him back to level par, which is where he finished.
In the group ahead, 2024 winner Xander Schauffele made the early running by birdieing three of his first four holes before finishing at two under.
Victory this week would take McIlroy past Sir Nick Faldo’s tally of six majors and make him the most successful European of the modern era.
Former Open champion Cameron Smith birdied the first and fourth to stand among the early leaders, two shots adrift of German Stephan Jaeger.
A string of big names started their campaigns just ahead of McIlroy, with three-time champion Brooks Koepka in a group alongside 2024 winner Xander Schauffele and England’s Tyrrell Hatton.
England’s Alex Fitzpatrick was among the championship’s first group to tee off at 6.45am local time and began in style by birdieing the first two holes.
The 27-year-old is a player in form, with wins on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour so far this season as well as a fourth-placed finish at last week’s Truist Championship.
He was pegged back by a bogey on the fifth having found one of Aronimink’s 174 bunkers.