Masters champion Rory McIlroy endured a difficult opening round at the US PGA Championship, struggling to a three-over-par 74 at Quail Hollow.
The world number two now finds himself nine shots behind leader Ryan Gerard, who produced a blistering performance to reach six-under after 17 holes.
McIlroy's disappointing start comes just weeks after his career grand slam triumph at Augusta National, where he defeated Justin Rose in a play-off to claim his fifth major title.
McIlroy hit just three fairways in regulation throughout his round, struggling with accuracy off the tee.
Rory McIlroy suffered a nightmare start as he looks to win back-to-back majors
Sky Sports
Starting from the 10th, he managed a birdie despite missing the fairway and green, holing from 10 feet after a well-judged pitch.
That gain was immediately surrendered with a three-putt on the 11th. He added another birdie on the par-five 15th but suffered a costly double bogey on the 16th when his back foot slipped during a recovery shot.
His round concluded with a bogey on the ninth, his final hole.
McIlroy was fortunate not to find water hazards multiple times during his round, with several pulled tee shots stopping just short of trouble.
On the 15th, his wayward drive stopped just a few feet from the water, allowing him to recover with a seven iron.
Another pulled tee shot on the 18th narrowly avoided the creek that runs the length of the hole.
Even when McIlroy did find a fairway on the first hole, he hit his second shot into a greenside bunker and failed to get up and down.
In contrast, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald compiled a bogey-free 67 to share the clubhouse lead at four-under par.
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Rory McIlroy won The Masters last month to complete a career Grand Slam
Reuters
Donald is joined by New Zealand's Ryan Fox, American Alex Smalley and German golfer Stephan Jaeger.
Fox only secured his place in the field on Sunday by winning his first PGA Tour title in Myrtle Beach.
Smalley was an even later entrant, getting in as first alternate on Wednesday afternoon when Sahith Theegala withdrew due to injury.
England's Matt Fitzpatrick and Scotland's Robert MacIntyre are both on three-under.
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Rory McIlroy cannot believe it as he misses his bogey putt 😱 pic.twitter.com/4LQ1zA5zd5
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 15, 2025
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley was four-under after 16 holes, while defending champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler finished with a birdie to record a battling 69.
Scheffler's playing partner Xander Schauffele carded a 72, with both players joining McIlroy in making six on the 16th after pulling their approaches into the water.
Irish players Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry both finished at two-over par after their opening rounds, while Seamus Power is one-over.
