Rory McIlroy needed just one angry word to describe frustrating PGA Championship start

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Rory McIlroy did not look like the No. 2 ranked player in the world fresh off winning the Masters for the second consecutive year.

McIlroy struggled to a frustrating 4-over-par 74 in Thursday’s opening round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.

When asked to evaluate his round, McIlroy was succinct.

“S–t,’’ he said.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after a putt on the ninth green during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 14, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Getty Images

Asked to elaborate, he said, “I’m just not driving the ball well enough. It’s been a problem all year for the most part. 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.

“That’s pretty frustrating, especially when I pride myself on driving the ball well. I just need to try to figure it out. I honestly thought I’d figured it out.

McIlroy started on the back nine and was even par after birdieing No. 5 (his 14th hole of the day). However, he finished the day with four straight bogeys to put him far off the lead.

Warning: Graphic Language

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the ninth green during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 14, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Getty Images

“Coming in here, I hit it well on Sunday at Quail Hollow, and then hit it good at home on Monday (and) hit it decent (Wednesday),” McIlroy said. “Once I get under the gun, it just seems like it starts to go a little bit wayward on me.

“I started missing fairways. I missed the fairway right on four, the fairway right on six, the fairway right on seven, fairway right on nine. Then obviously you start missing it just off the edges of these greens, it gets tricky.’’