Rory McIlroy Frustrated by Poor Driving in PGA Championship Opening Round

World No. 2 golfer Rory McIlroy endured a difficult start to the PGA Championship, shooting a frustrating 4-over-par 74 in the first round at Aronimink Golf Club. Despite recently winning the Masters for the second consecutive year, McIlroy struggled significantly with his driving accuracy, a persistent issue throughout the current season. When asked to evaluate his performance succinctly, he used a single expletive to describe his round. He elaborated that his drives were inconsistent, missing right and then overcorrecting to miss left, which he found particularly aggravating given his pride in this aspect of his game. Although he was even par after birdieing the fifth hole (his 14th of the day), McIlroy finished with four consecutive bogeys, leaving him well off the lead. He noted that while his practice rounds earlier in the week were promising, his performance became wayward under competitive pressure, leading to missed fairways and tricky approach shots. This result marks a stark contrast to his recent major championship success.