Rory McIlroy's struggles at the PGA Championship culminated in a disappointing finish outside the top 40, marking his second-worst major result in the past two years.
The world No. 2 completed the tournament at 3-over 287, a surprisingly poor showing at Quail Hollow, a course where he has historically dominated.
Adding to the intrigue, McIlroy declined to speak to the media for four consecutive days, leaving his assessment of his performance a complete mystery.
One of the game's premier drivers, the 36-year-old uncharacteristically struggled off the tee, ranking a dismal 70th out of 74 players in fairways hit.
Rory McIlroy's struggles at the PGA Championship culminated in a disappointing finish outside the top 40, marking his second-worst major result in the past two years
REUTERS
This poor performance may be linked to a late equipment change, as SiriusXM reported that McIlroy's regular driver was deemed non-conforming, forcing him to switch driver heads before the first round.
The equipment issue appeared to cascade through his game, as his usual precision into greens suffered, and his putting wasn't sharp enough to salvage his scores.
The PGA of America, whilst not commenting specifically on McIlroy's testing results due to confidentiality protocols, did provide a general statement about the testing process.
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Rory McIlroy refused to speak to the media for the fourth day in a row after his poor display at the PGA Championship
REUTERS
They explained that club testing is a routine procedure at tournaments and that repeated ball-striking can cause a club to cross the testing threshold without a player's knowledge.
This suggests McIlroy may have been unaware of any issue with his driver until the mandatory pre-tournament testing identified the non-conformity, forcing the last-minute equipment change that potentially derailed his performance.
McIlroy's sloppy performance comes as a surprise considering his stellar season, where he hasn't finished worse than 17th in any stroke-play event and has secured three wins in marquee events.
Most notably, he captured the Masters last month, completing the career Grand Slam in his 11th attempt.
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At his pre-tournament press conference, McIlroy admitted that despite competing twice since Augusta National, he hadn't devoted his usual time to practice and preparation, being occupied with celebrations abroad and a New York City media tour.
Looking ahead, McIlroy has committed to play in the RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for the week before the U.S. Open.
Rory McIlroy's wait for a first PGA Championship since 2014 (pictured) goes on
gettyHowever, his participation in the Memorial Tournament, the next signature event on the PGA Tour calendar set for 29 May to 1 June, remains uncertain.
McIlroy has not yet registered for the Jack Nicklaus-hosted invitational, which would mark a significant change in his routine if he skips it, as he has played in the tournament every year since 2017.
