
Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited fifth major title may have to wait at least another month after he shot a disappointing 3-over par 75 in the first round of the 2021 PGA Championship.
Starting on the back side at Kiawah Island’s famed Ocean Course, the 32-year old opened with a bogey 5 but quickly bounced back with two straight birdies to send the South Carolina golf fans into a frenzy, and move slightly into the red numbers at 1 under.
That would be the highlight of the day for the Northern Irishman and his army of followers.
A disappointing bogey on the par-5 16th hole would drop McIlroy back to even-par 36 at the turn, and then the wheels completely fell off amid a seven-hole stretch comprised of two pars, one birdie, and four bogeys – including dropped shots on both the par-5 scoring holes.
After one round, McIlroy was (currently) T110 on 3 over par – a far cry from 2012 when a then 23-year old wonderkid opened the same championship, on the same course, with a 67 to sit T2 en route to a blowout victory.