Rory McIlroy's Rollercoaster Start at the US PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy had a challenging start to his US PGA Championship campaign, finishing with four consecutive bogeys in his opening round, ending at four-over par. The 37-year-old, aiming for back-to-back majors after winning the Masters last month, struggled with five bogeys on his back nine, falling away from the clubhouse lead. Despite a promising start with a birdie after an opening bogey, McIlroy couldn't maintain his momentum and ended the round with a disappointing finish.
Starting from the 10th hole, McIlroy had a mixed round with a series of pars interrupted by occasional birdies and bogeys. The Northern Irishman, seeking his seventh major title, faced challenges with inaccurate tee shots that led to his downfall. Despite the support from the galleries following his group, which included Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth, McIlroy couldn't find his rhythm and struggled with his game.
Jon Rahm, who had a rollercoaster round, made an impressive eagle on the second hole after a series of bogeys, finishing at one under par. Jordan Spieth, aiming to complete the career grand slam, showed glimpses of his form with three birdies but was hindered by late bogeys. Xander Schauffele and Garrick Higgo had strong starts to their rounds, finishing at two under and one under, respectively.
On the other hand, Bryson DeChambeau had a tough day on the course, posting a six-over par 76. England's Alex Fitzpatrick had a promising start but faltered with a run of double bogey and bogeys, finishing at two over. The world number one and defending champion, Scottie Scheffler, was set to start his championship round later in the day alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose.
In conclusion, the opening round of the US PGA Championship saw a mix of performances from top players, with some struggling to find their form while others made impressive starts. The challenging course conditions tested the players' skills, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.