Back-to-back bogeys dampened Rory McIlroy’s drive just prior to a thunderstorm halting play late on day one of the PGA Championship in Rochester.

Play was halted at 4.25pm local time with McIlroy dropping back to one under par after 11 holes on the Oak Hill course.

McIlroy had raced to three under par after just four holes and easily putting aside on-going questions over his game.

The defending PGA champ holed a three-footer at the first, a six-footer at the third and then a three-footer at the par five fouth hole.

Rory McIlroy tees off the first hole in the defence of his PGA Championship title. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

However his approach shot at the next, the par four fifth hole, spun back into rocks on the edge of a water hazard guarding the green from where McIlroy took bogey.

McIlroy bounced back with a birdie at nine to get back to three under par before bogeys at 10 and 11.

It left the current World No. 3 trailing four shots behind clubhouse leader and fellow US Open winner, Jim Furyk.

Australia’s Adam Scott had raced to five under par with five straight birdies from the fourth hole and was still tied on the course with Furyk through 10 holes when play was halted.

Reigning US Open champion, Justin Rose and his Ryder Cup colleague, Lee Westwood had moved to three under par after 10 and 12 holes respectively.

And BMW PGA winner, Matteo Manassero was at two under par after 13 holes.

European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley, and competing in his first Major in four years, had slumped to six over par after 15 holes and tied with Padraig Harrington who was in the clubhouse with a six over par 76.

McGinley was one over par after 10 holes but then dropped five shots in four holes including taking a double bogey at the par five, 13th.

FOOTNOTE –

McIlroy came straight back after the 1 hour and 10 minute delay to birdie the 12th hole on route to an eventual score of 69.