Rory McIlroy didn't mince words after his opening round at the US PGA Championship—calling his performance "s***" following a brutal finish with four straight bogeys. The 37-year-old Northern Irishman, who teed off among the early starters at Aronimink Golf Club in southwest Philadelphia, initially looked to have things under control after an early bogey.
McIlroy bounced back quickly with a birdie and then rattled off 10 consecutive pars, steadying his ship. But the back nine—his first nine of the day—told a different story. Five bogeys and just one birdie left him four over par, a score that clearly frustrated the four-time major champion.
"I started missing fairways," McIlroy explained. "I missed the fairway right on four, right on six, right on seven, right on nine. I made that birdie on five to get back to even after the soft bogey on four, then I just got on that bogey train at the end."
The problem, as McIlroy sees it, is a recurring one. "I'm just not driving the ball well enough. It's been an issue all year, for the most part. I honestly thought I'd figured it out. But once I get under the gun, it just seems to go a little wayward on me."
McIlroy is chasing a seventh major win, having successfully defended his Masters title just last month. His preparation for this tournament was cut short by a troublesome toe issue during his first practice round, but he confirmed that wasn't a factor in his performance. Earlier, he had described the course as a "bash driver down, figure it out" layout, but quickly learned that wayward shots carry a heavier penalty than anticipated.
"There certainly is a penalty for missing the fairway," McIlroy admitted. "Probably more than what I anticipated after being here a couple of Fridays ago."
Despite his struggles, McIlroy enjoyed massive support from the galleries following his star-studded group, which also included Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth. Spieth, chasing a win to complete the career grand slam, and Rahm both finished their opening rounds at one under par. Rahm's round was a rollercoaster, but a pitch-in for eagle and a chip-in birdie on the back nine lifted his spirits.
Pre-tournament chatter that Aronimink wouldn't trouble the world's best golfers quickly proved unfounded, as the course showed its teeth on day one.