Rory McIlroy's pursuit of a second major title in 2024 got off to a rocky start at the PGA Championship, as the Northern Irishman carded an opening-round 74 at Aronimink on Thursday. The six-time major winner now finds himself seven shots off the pace with three rounds remaining, and his frustration was palpable throughout the day.

Fresh off his second consecutive Masters victory last month, the 37-year-old entered the week with sky-high expectations. But Thursday's performance was a far cry from the form that earned him a green jacket. McIlroy struggled mightily off the tee, ranking 111th in strokes gained off the tee and 89th in strokes gained approach. His short game offered little respite, as he ranked 91st around the green and 109th in putting, ultimately losing 1.739 strokes to the field.

The most telling stat of the day? A historic low point. In the 990th round of his PGA Tour career, McIlroy did something he'd never done before: he closed his round with four consecutive bogeys. That stretch of six bogeys against just two birdies summed up a day where nothing seemed to click.

For a player of McIlroy's caliber, such a stat is almost unthinkable. But if there's one thing we've learned from watching champions, it's that they bounce back. Expect the Ulsterman to come out swinging on Friday, determined to claw his way back into contention. After all, with three rounds to play, there's still plenty of time for a comeback—but he'll need to find his rhythm fast if he wants to add another Wanamaker Trophy to his collection.