Rory McIlroy Criticizes Poor Start at US PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy expressed strong dissatisfaction with his opening round at the US PGA Championship, describing his performance as terrible after finishing four over par. The 37-year-old Northern Irishman struggled significantly on the back nine at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia, recording four consecutive bogeys to end his day. Although he initially stabilized after an early bogey with a birdie and ten straight pars, his driving accuracy faltered under pressure, leading to missed fairways and penalizing outcomes. McIlroy admitted that his ongoing issues with driving have persisted throughout the year and were more costly than anticipated on this specific course layout. Meanwhile, competitors Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth finished their rounds at one under par. Rahm experienced a mixed round but managed to recover with key shots, while also apologizing for accidentally hitting a volunteer with a divot during a frustrated practice swing. The challenging course conditions defied pre-tournament predictions of low scores, with the clubhouse lead standing at only three under par, indicating a tougher-than-expected test for the world's best golfers.