Rory McIlroy's PGA Championship campaign ended in disappointment as the Northern Irishman finished tied for 47th with three over par at Quail Hollow.
The underwhelming performance came just a month after his triumphant Masters victory at Augusta, falling well short of the high expectations many had for him at a venue where he has historically excelled.
McIlroy was never in contention throughout the tournament, struggling to find his form as eventual winner Scottie Scheffler claimed the title and the £2.6million prize.
The 36-year-old's showing was so disappointing that he was packing his clubs into his car before Scheffler had even teed off for his final round.
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McIlroy's disappointing finish came with financial implications beyond just missing out on the winner's purse.
The Northern Irishman earned £36,805.09 ($49,190) for his tied-47th finish, a modest sum compared to Scheffler's £2.6million prize.
As a US resident, McIlroy faces significant tax deductions from his earnings.
He will pay 37 per cent in federal tax, amounting to £13,610.28, plus North Carolina state tax at a flat rate of 4.5 per cent, adding another £1,656.14.
These tax obligations total over £15,000, leaving McIlroy with a take-home amount of just £21,538.67 from his PGA Championship appearance.
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McIlroy's struggles began before he even hit his first competitive shot at Quail Hollow.
Reports indicated his driver failed to meet tournament standards during practice sessions, forcing him to make a last-minute equipment change.
Whether related or not, his performance suffered immediately.
He opened with a disappointing 74 on Thursday before showing signs of recovery with a 69 on Friday, just managing to make the cut.
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Rory McIlroy made a quick exit from Quail Hollow after his disappointing performance
Reuters
However, any hopes of a weekend charge were quickly extinguished as he posted identical rounds of 72 on both Saturday and Sunday.
McIlroy was not alone in his struggles, with many other top players also failing to challenge at the top of the leaderboard.
Following his final round, McIlroy made a swift exit from the tournament, avoiding any media engagements.
He did not conduct broadcast interviews or appear in the press conference facility, leaving journalists without any post-tournament comments.
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Television crews captured him loading his clubs into his car after a brief conversation with Jon Rahm, who was preparing to begin his final round.
Despite this setback, McIlroy won't have to wait long for his next opportunity to pursue a sixth major title.
He will return to action at the US Open, scheduled to take place at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania between 12-15 June.
