Rory McIlroy Frustrated by Poor Start at PGA Championship

Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy expressed strong frustration after finishing the opening round of the US PGA Championship at four over par. The 37-year-old, who recently defended his Masters title, struggled significantly on the back nine at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia, recording four consecutive bogeys to end his day. McIlroy candidly described his performance as terrible, citing persistent issues with his driving accuracy that have plagued him throughout the year. He noted that missing fairways was more penalizing than anticipated, contradicting pre-tournament expectations that the course would yield low scores. While McIlroy faltered, his playing partners Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth finished one under par. Rahm experienced a mixed round but managed to recover with key shots, though he later apologized for accidentally hitting a volunteer with a divot during a practice swing. The challenging course conditions resulted in a clubhouse lead of only three under par, dispelling earlier predictions of extremely low winning scores. McIlroy remains focused on correcting his driving errors as he pursues his seventh major championship title.