Rory McIlroy risks a penalty after a furious response to his opening round at the US PGA Championship sparked accusations of having 'no class'. The Northern Irishman finished his first round at Aronimink Golf Club with four consecutive bogeys, leaving him at 4-over par.
McIlroy's Frustration Boils Over
McIlroy, the reigning Masters champion, was visibly frustrated after his round. Playing alongside Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth, the 37-year-old struggled off the tee, hitting only two birdies against six bogeys. In a press conference, when asked about his round, he replied bluntly: 'S***. I started missing fairways. I missed the fairway right on four, the fairway right on six, the fairway right on seven, fairway right on nine.'
He added: 'I made that birdie on five to get back to even-par after the soft bogey on four, then I just got on that bogey train at the end. I'm just not driving the ball well enough. It's been a problem all year for the most part. I just need to try to figure it out. I honestly thought I'd figured it out. Just sort of, once I get under the gun, it just seems like it starts to go a little bit wayward on me.'
New Code of Conduct
McIlroy must now be cautious with his comments, as a new player code of conduct has been introduced at the Majors this year. While his reaction is unlikely to result in a stroke penalty, he could receive a warning. Repeat offenders face a two-shot penalty under the clampdown.
The Northern Irishman's remarks have divided opinion online. One fan said: 'He's an easy guy to root against.' Another added: 'No class from Rory McIlroy. Young fans are watching.' However, some defended him: 'I appreciate Rory's honesty,' wrote one, while another said: 'He gave a thoughtful explanation after the initial comment.'
Analysis from Paul McGinley
McIlroy admitted he needs to improve his driving, but former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley also highlighted his poor putting. Speaking to Sky Sports, McGinley said: 'He didn't putt very well, but it all goes back to off the tee. All of his dropped shots, except for one, were dropped from being wild off the tee and being unable to recover. We saw him win The Masters so brilliantly, but he was second-last for driving accuracy, and so he got away with it. Today, Aronimink bit anyone who hit it in the rough. A lot of players said this week there was no strategy off the tee and you just belt driver everywhere, but the scoring proved that is not the case. You miss fairways at your peril around here, as the greens are treacherous. You need to hit the fairway to have control.'
McIlroy will look to bounce back in the second round as he seeks his seventh major title.
