NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — After a gap spherical that lasted greater than 5 hours and ended with 4 straight bogeys, Rory McIlroy summed up his efficiency succinctly Thursday at Aronimink Golf Membership.
After the primary spherical of the PGA Championship, McIlroy mentioned of his 4-over 74.
The five-time main winner and two-time Masters champion struggled off the tee Thursday, lacking the golf green on 9 of 14 holes, together with six of seven in his second 9. His 4 consecutive bogeys to finish the spherical have been the primary time he had achieved so in a serious match.
“We simply have not been operating the ball effectively, and that is been a difficulty for a lot of the yr,” McIlroy mentioned. “Should you miss it to the precise, you attempt to appropriate it. You then overdo it and miss it to the left. You are going forwards and backwards just a little bit like that. So it is fairly irritating, particularly if you satisfaction your self on driving the ball effectively.”
McIlroy leads the PGA Tour in tee shot features this season, however he nonetheless struggles to seek out quick grass, despite the fact that he can hit the golf green additional down the golf green than most gamers. Via six occasions this yr, he ranks 91st in driving accuracy.
“You must attempt to determine it out. Actually, I believed I acquired it,” McIlroy mentioned, including that the blister on his little finger that he is been coping with since final week did not trouble him in any respect on Thursday. “I got here right here and hit some good pictures at Quail Hole on Sunday, and I hit some good pictures at dwelling on Monday. … I believe when you choose up the gun, you begin to get just a little egocentric.”
Earlier this week, McIlroy alluded to a easy technique supplied by Aronimink, saying he may simply hit driver on nearly each gap as a result of there wasn’t a lot to consider off the tee.
However after the opening recreation, McIlroy’s temper modified.
“There’s positively a penalty (for lacking the golf green), and it was in all probability greater than I anticipated, no matter it was, since I acquired right here two Fridays in the past,” McIlroy mentioned. “I did not count on it to be so windy immediately. I believe the breeze is what decides the rating. It is onerous to get the ball shut. A few of the pins are hidden.”
