PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy uses a single four-letter word to describe his first round

May 14, 2026 - 20:05

Rory McIlroy did not mince words after his opening round at the PGA Championship. The four-time major winner carded a 4-over 74 on Thursday, a score that left him fighting just to make the cut. When asked to sum up his performance, McIlroy used a single, blunt four-letter word: "Rubbish."

It was a stark assessment from a player who arrived at the year's second major with high expectations. McIlroy struggled from the start, failing to find any rhythm with his irons and missing several short putts that he typically converts. The round included three bogeys on his front nine and a double bogey on the par-4 14th that effectively derailed any chance of a comeback. He managed only two birdies all day.

The 74 puts McIlroy well outside the top 50 and dangerously close to the projected cut line. With the leaderboard packed with low scores, he will need a sharp turnaround in the second round just to play the weekend. The frustration was evident in his post-round comments, where he acknowledged that his game simply was not sharp enough for a major championship.

McIlroy has not won a major since 2014, and this opening round only adds to the pressure. He will need to find something close to his best form on Friday to avoid an early exit.