Rory McIlroy’s Disappointing Start at the US PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy, the 37-year-old Northern Irish golfer, experienced a challenging opening round at the US PGA Championship, finishing with four consecutive bogeys and a score of four-over par. This marked a disappointing start to his campaign as he aimed to secure back-to-back majors following his recent victory at the Masters in Augusta.
McIlroy was among the morning starters at Aronimink Golf Club in south-west Philadelphia. His performance on the back nine, where he recorded five bogeys, saw him fall behind the clubhouse lead, which stood at three under par.
Starting from the 10th hole, McIlroy faced immediate difficulties with an opening bogey after having to hack out of the rough. However, he quickly bounced back with a birdie at the 11th hole. From there, he managed a run of 10 straight pars, showcasing his resilience. McIlroy is chasing a seventh major title, which would surpass Sir Nick Faldo’s record and make him the most successful European of the modern era.
His efforts were not without drama, as his birdie putt on the 18th hole fell agonisingly short. He bent double in anguish before watching his ball roll back to the front of the first green as he made the turn at even par. The two-time US PGA champion struggled to find his form, showing frustration after a sloppy drive on the fourth hole led to a second bogey.
Despite this, McIlroy showed determination by sinking a 31-foot putt. However, his performance continued to decline, with inaccurate tee shots leading to four bogeys in a row, which significantly impacted his round.
McIlroy had strong support from the large galleries following his group, which also included Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth. Spieth, who is aiming for a win here to complete his career grand slam, made a move with three birdies on his back nine but was ultimately left at one under due to two late bogeys.
Jon Rahm, who bogeyed the opening 10th hole, faced challenges with the vast greens. His approach to the first hole ran off the front, prompting a spectator to comment, “Welcome to Aronimink, Jon!” Despite this, Rahm managed to recover with a remarkable eagle on the second hole, making his first ever US PGA Championship eagle and drawing him back to one under.
This moment ignited the fans around the second hole, as Rahm, smiling widely, tossed his ball into the crowd. Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele, the 2024 winner, started strongly by birdieing three of his first four holes, finishing at two under.
England’s Alex Fitzpatrick, who was among the first groups to play, began with two birdies, reaching the 14th at two under. However, a run of double bogey, bogey, and bogey damaged his round, leaving him at two over.
Bryson DeChambeau, who finished as runner-up in the last two years, endured a tough round, posting a six-over par 76. South Africa’s Garrick Higgo, on the other hand, made a notable performance with a one-under 69, despite being penalised two shots for being late to the tee.
The defending champion, Scottie Scheffler, will start his championship at 2:05pm local time (7:05pm BST) alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on these top players to see how they perform in the challenging conditions at Aronimink Golf Club.
