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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Rory McIlroy reacts after missing a putt on the 16th hole.Alamy Stock Photo Rory McIlroy off the pace after wayward first round at US PGA Championship Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry are both two-over after the opening round. 6.55pm, 15 May 2025 Share options LAST UPDATE 13 mins ago MASTERS CHAMPION RORY McIlroy faces an uphill battle to claim back-to-back major titles after an error-strewn opening round in the 107th US PGA Championship. McIlroy struggled to a three-over-par 74 to trail clubhouse leaders Luke Donald, Ryan Fox, Alex Smalley and Stephan Jaeger by seven shots, with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre on three under. McIlroy’s play-off victory over Justin Rose at Augusta National in April had made him just the sixth male golfer to complete a career grand slam and gave him a fifth major title. He is eight shots behind the current leader Ryan Gerard, who posted a five-under 66. The American has produced a blistering run of form on the back nine with an eagle on the par-five 15th following four birdies in succession between the 10th and 13th. Follow the latest first round leaderboard here Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry are both two-over after the opening round, while Seamus Power is one-over. Shane Lowry hits his tee shot on the 11th hole.Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Lowry made a slow start to his round, bogeying three of his first seven holes, before handing back the shot he made on 18 – the ninth of Lowry’s round – with a bogey on the very next hole. He found a spark with back-to-back birdies on holes three and four, the latter secured with a monster putt from 68 feet. That momentum stalled, however, with Lowry closing with a string of pars and a bogey on his final hole. “I always struggle around here and today was another one of those days”, said a dispirited Lowry after his round. “I’m disappointed, but I’m more disappointed with my finish than my start. Two great chances on 7 and 8 and then bogey 9 is really annoying. It is what it is. “I’ll just have to go shoot a low one tomorrow. I don’t see the ball going close out there and I don’t see birdies. It’s tough when it’s like that. I’ll give it my best tomorrow and see what happens.” Harrington meanwhile had his steady start marred by a run of four consecutive bogeys from holes nine to 12. “I did some good work with [sports psychologist] Bob Rotella but it was hard to do today”, said Harrington. “It was great yesterday but it’s harder to bring to the golf course. Anyway, a few bad holes around the turn, a couple of three putts. “It was disappointing to drive it on 14 and three putt it. I needed a break at that stage. A putt down the hill I left it eight or ten feet short. You’re tiddling the next one and it probably broke a foot when you’re hoping it would break six inches. It’s just tough, tough. It’s not like you can hit anything firm to hold the line. Luke [Donald] hit good putts, that’s the key.” Advertisement McIlroy was strongly fancied at Quail Hollow, a venue where he won his first PGA Tour title in 2010 and has since claimed three more victories, including last year. However, McIlroy hit just three fairways in regulation and was fortunate not to find the water with a number of pulled tee shots in an unexpectedly poor display. McIlroy was among the early starters from the 10th tee in Thursday’s first round and despite missing the fairway and green on the downhill par five, he holed from 10 feet for birdie after a well-judged pitch. That shot was immediately given back on the next with a disappointing three-putt and McIlroy had to save par on the 12th with a deft chip after his approach span back off the side of the green. McIlroy was unable to find the green on the reachable par-four 14th and although he hit a good pitch to four feet, he could not convert the birdie attempt. Another wayward drive on the par-five 15th stopped just a few feet from the water and McIlroy was able to hit a seven iron just short of the green, from where he two-putted for birdie. But after pulling another tee shot on the 16th, McIlroy’s back foot slipped as he tried to pitch the ball back into play and he missed the green with his approach on his way to a double bogey. Playing partners Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion and world number one, also made six after pulling their approaches into the water as the first hole of the so-called “Green Mile” closing stretch claimed three high-profile victims. McIlroy almost chipped in for birdie on the 17th before yet another pulled tee shot on the 18th stopped just short of the creek which runs the length of the hole, from where he was able to find the putting surface and make par. Even when McIlroy found a fairway, as he did on the first, he hit his second shot into a greenside bunker and failed to get up and down, a disappointing round fizzling out with seven straight pars and another bogey on the ninth. In contrast, Donald had compiled a bogey-free 67 to join Fox and Smalley in the clubhouse lead, Fox only securing his place in the field on Sunday by winning his first PGA Tour title in Myrtle Beach. Smalley was an even later entrant, getting in as first alternate on Wednesday afternoon when Sahith Theegala withdrew due to injury. Scheffler finished with a birdie to record a battling 69, with Schauffele carding a 72. With reporting by Gavin Cooney Written by Press Association and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here. Viewcomments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Rory McIlroy off the pace after wayward first round at US PGA Championship”. 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