Harrington understanding as McIlroy struggles: "After the high that he got..."
Rory McIlroy reacts on the 17th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America)
Rory McIlroy lost his driving mojo and struggled to a 74 that left him 10 shots behind surprise leader Jhonattan Vegas in the PGA Championship in Charlotte.
But fellow Major winner Padraig Harrington was understanding as the Masters champion comes down from the high of completing the career Grand Slam just four weeks ago.
“It does (take it out of you), even for Rory with all his success,” Harrington said of McIlroy, who did not address the media after his round and planned to head to the driving range.
“After the high that he got, he has to have some come down. And it was an incredible high.
"I played in practice with him and he looked great so I am surprised he is two-over right now (after nine). But it can get away from you around the greens out there.”
McIlroy found just four fairways on a sweltering day and made almost nothing on the greens in a three-over-par effort — his highest score at Quail Hollow since carding a 76 in 2018.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele also had his struggles in the marquee group, complaining of “mud balls” after shooting a one-over 72 matched by Seamus Power.
But McIlroy was totally out of shots and a bogey at his final hole left him five strokes behind world number one Scottie Scheffler, who hit his final approach to a few inches to chisel out a two-under 69.
Harrington and Shane Lowry also had their struggles and shot two-over 73s that left them struggling to make the cut.
But they fared better than McIlroy, who started by brushing in a ten-footer for birdie at the 10th but made just one more in a disappointing opening effort.
He three-putted the 11th, then made a three-footer for birdie at the 15th to get back into the red, but double bogeyed the 16th after a hook into trouble and found just one fairway on his opening nine.
Further missed fairways cost him shots at the first and ninth coming home, leaving him in danger of missing the cut in the PGA Championship for the first time since 2016.
The decision by officials not to allow placing led to complaints from several players, including Schauffele
"It is what it is, and a lot of guys are dealing with it, but it's just unfortunate to be hitting good shots and to pay them off that way,” Schauffele said.
