Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy struggled in his first round of the 2026 U.S. PGA Championship, finishing it with a string of four straight bogeys. The four-time major winner admitted to missing fairways on several critical shots and blamed poor ball striking.
During an interview after the round, McIlroy was direct in his assessment: “S***,” he said, explaining that he had missed multiple fairways with drives right of target from holes four through nine. He added, "I started missing fairways. I missed the fairway right on four, the fairway right on six, the fairway right on seven, and fairway right on nine."
McIlroy acknowledged that driving issues have been a recurring problem for him this year: “It’s been a problem all year for the most part. I just need to try to figure it out.” He expressed frustration but remained optimistic about resolving his struggles, stating, "I honestly thought I’d figured it out."
The poor start could have significant implications as McIlroy seeks to regain form and compete in major tournaments later this year.
Next steps for the golfer include a thorough review of his swing mechanics with coaches, focusing on driving accuracy. He will also work closely with equipment specialists to find ways to improve ball striking from off-center hits.
This article was produced by AVALW News on Friday, May 15, 2026 based on reporting from 4 verified news sources across 2 countries. Our editorial process cross-references facts from multiple independent outlets to deliver accurate, comprehensive coverage. All original sources are linked below.