Golf
PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy makes poor start with opening 74 as driver fails to fire
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 the early 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.
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.
