US PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy takes charge of clubhouse in Southern Hills

Rory McIlroy got his offer to end an eight-year major drought on a strong start by setting the tone on day one of the US PGA Championship.

He was part of a renowned band alongside Americans Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth in Southern Hills, Oklahoma.

Woods signed for a four-for-74 while Spieth finished with a two-for-72.

“Overall it was a great day,” McIlroy said. “Great to get off to a good start in a major league for a change.

“I came here knowing my game is in good shape, so it’s all about executing the shots you know you can – I have to replicate that tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday and not get ahead of myself. That’s a good start.”

World number 40 Tom Hoge, who won his first PGA Tour event at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this year, and fellow American Will Zalatoris are the closest challengers to McIlroy at four under par.

Scotsman Robert MacIntyre, who started 10th, posted a level 70 that saw two birdies from his first nine canceled out by a pair of bogeys after the turn, putting him level with England’s Tyrrell Hatton.

The three highest-ranked players in the world – Masters winner Scottie Scheffler, US Open winner Jon Rahm and Open champion Collin Morikawa – are among the late starters with the wind expected to pick up in the afternoon.

McIlroy stutters after fast start

From the 10th tee, McIlroy’s putter was as fiery as the sweltering Tulsa heat and his composure as cold as on-site refreshments at unbelievable prices as he birdied four successive birdies to contest the lead after six holes.

The 33-year-old is looking to record a third PGA Championship win, with the second of his Wanamaker Trophy successes coming in August 2014 at Valhalla, just weeks after winning his first Claret Jug at the Open.

It was McIlroy’s fourth major title and the great Jack Nicklaus afterwards proclaimed that the fresh-faced prospect could go on to “win 15 or 20” of golf’s elite prizes.

Eight years later, McIlroy has yet to add to that tally – instead he has 14 top-10 finishes and a runner-up finish at last month’s Masters.

He would express this by emphasizing, as he did for Everything about BBC Radio 5 Live: The Open Podcastthat he’s won just about everything else during that time, but his recent major form has been characterized by slow starts that have put him out of contention.

Prior to this event, McIlroy had a cumulative 35-over-par in the opening rounds of major championships since his last title in 2014, having been 19 under for his opening rounds the previous four years.

On Thursday – in the absence of defending champion Phil Mickelson, the man McIlroy edged for his last big win – he maintained his early charge by elbowing in another birdie at the 500-yard-par-four second. , his 11th, to move two shots. released from the field then recovered by the next hole.

Showing his daughter Poppy an old photo of him on the media center wall earlier this week, McIlroy is would have said to have joked with her that “that was when daddy was good”.

A fifth major title would certainly reinforce that he still is and, despite missing a birdie chance on his 13th, McIlroy escaped the green’s bunker on the fifth par five and rolled in the next putt to extend his advantage to three hits.

But his momentum was slowed with the first blemish on his par-card three-sixths moments later, skimming a par putt from wide, and wayward drive ensued as McIlroy’s stellar first round threatened to unravel on the section.

He rushed for par before a second bogey of the day allowed Hoge and Zalatoris to take a share of first place, only to roll in his seventh birdie from 20ft on the final hole to sign off. for his second-lowest joint opener in a major—decreasing only with a 63 at the Open in 2010, when he finished tied for third.

Woods appears in pain on arrival

Woods made a remarkable return to Augusta National in April, 14 months after a career-threatening car accident left him out of action for three months.

The world number 818 said it felt like ‘Everest’ and, after more time on the golf course, insisted he was now ready to tackle.

He started brilliantly with birdies on his first and fifth holes.

But the 15-time major champion looked to be struggling to sink into his round, grimacing after the tee shots and he closed with back-to-back bogeys to finish four.

“A lot of care, a lot of ice,” Woods said of his recovery ahead of Friday’s second round.

Spieth, who must win this major to complete a career grand slam, had a mixed round in which he had two birdies and four bogeys.