Rory McIlroy’s struggles at the PGA Championship ended with a disappointing finish outside the top 40, and he’s not talking about it.
The world No. 2 declined media interviews for the fourth straight day at Quail Hollow, a course where he’s historically dominated. McIlroy barely made the cut, then posted over-par rounds on the weekend to finish at 3-over 287 — his second-worst major result in two years.
What went wrong? His driving accuracy was abysmal, ranking 70th out of 74 players in fairways hit. This might be connected to a last-minute equipment issue. SiriusXM reported that McIlroy had to switch driver heads before the opening round.
The PGA of America didn’t specifically confirm McIlroy’s testing results but noted that routine equipment testing is standard at tournaments. They explained that regular ball-striking can sometimes push a club beyond testing thresholds without players realizing it.
McIlroy’s struggles cascaded from there. Playing from the rough limited his approach shot precision, and his putting wasn’t sharp enough to save his scorecard.
It’s a puzzling performance from a player who hasn’t finished worse than 17th in any stroke-play event this season. He’s won three significant tournaments in 2024, including his career-defining Masters victory last month that completed his career Grand Slam after 11 attempts.
McIlroy admitted before the tournament that his preparation wasn’t typical. Following his Augusta triumph, he’s been celebrating abroad and doing media appearances in New York City rather than focusing on his usual practice regimen.
Looking ahead, McIlroy has committed to the RBC Canadian Open, which precedes the U.S. Open. He hasn’t yet registered for the Memorial Tournament (May 29-June 1), the next signature event on the PGA Tour schedule. That’s noteworthy since he’s played Jack Nicklaus’s tournament every year since 2017.
