Rory McIlroy didn't mince words after his opening round at the 2026 PGA Championship. When asked to sum up his performance, the four-time major winner offered a blunt one-word assessment: "S**t."
And honestly, it's hard to argue with him. McIlroy carded a 4-over 74 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania—a venue hosting the PGA Championship for the first time since 1962. Starting on the back nine, the Northern Irishman looked steady through much of his round, but things unraveled dramatically on his closing stretch. He bogeyed each of his final four holes (Nos. 6-9), turning what could have been a respectable start into a frustrating finish.
"I started missing fairways," McIlroy explained. "I missed the fairway right on 4, the fairway right on 6, the fairway right on 7, fairway right on 9. From there, it's hard—you know, I didn't have great angles either. Then obviously you start missing it just off the edges of these greens, it gets tricky."
The struggles are particularly surprising given McIlroy's recent form. Just last month, he became only the fourth player in history to win consecutive Masters titles, cementing his status among the game's elite. He entered this week leading the PGA Tour in both Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Strokes Gained: Tee to Green. But despite those impressive stats, McIlroy admits his driver hasn't felt right all season.
"I'm just not driving the ball well enough," said the world No. 2. "It's been a problem all year for the most part. Like, I miss it right, and then I want to try to correct it. And then I'll overdo it, and I'll miss it left. It's a little bit of back and forth that way. So that's pretty frustrating, especially when like I pride myself on driving the ball well."
McIlroy had hoped he'd turned a corner after a strong showing at Quail Hollow and solid practice sessions at home. But Thursday's round proved otherwise. "I honestly thought I'd figured it out," he admitted. "Once I get under the gun, it just seems like it starts to go a little bit wayward on me."
With three rounds still to play, the two-time PGA Champion will need to find his rhythm fast if he hopes to contend for the Wanamaker Trophy. For fans watching at home, it's a reminder that even the best in the world have days when the game feels anything but easy—and that sometimes, a single word says it all.