Holywood golfing starlet Rory McIlroy restored the glow to his PGA Championship glory hopes despite a horror mid-round run on day one of the season-ending Major in Louisville, Kentucky.
McIlroy went from taking a ‘7’ at the 10th hole and back towards a hopeful Valhalla victory heaven in signing off for a five under par 66 to be trailing just a shot behind the leading trio of England’s Lee Westwood and the American pair of Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer.
McIlroy looked every bit the reigning British Open and last week’s Bridgestone Invitational champion in racing to three under par after nine holes.
However he had spectators ducking for cover at the par five 10th hole when he sent his second shot from the middle of fairway way left, and with his ball managing to avoid human contact but bouncing off a cart path and over the fence, and out-of-bounds.
Rory McIlroy caught running across a bridge at Valhalla’s ninth hole moments before running up a ‘7’ at the next hole. (Photo – Eoin/Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
And after having to take a ‘stroke-and-distance’ penalty drop, McIlroy nearly did the same with his fourth and with his ball heading for the same bitumen pathway but rolling under a golf buggy.
McIlroy managed to find the green with his fifth but then two-putted for a double ‘7’.
It’s understood to be only first occasion since the third round of the 2011 British Open McIlroy has put a ball out-of-bounds.
However the triple Major winner rebounded from dropping three shots in two holes to birdie his next four holes to go from level par after 11 holes to be four under after 15.
“What happened on 10 really knocked me off track a little bit and it’s one of only a few bad shots I’ve hit in weeks”, he said.
“I just double crossed my second shot and what I was really angry about was that you make a ‘7’ but you don’t compound that error by making a bogey on the next hole which is what I did.
“Walking onto the 12th tee I was muttering a few things to myself but it was just great to hit that second shot in close, in the way I did, as it is one of the toughest par fours on the course and make birdie that made me feel a little bit better.
“And after what happened at 10 and 11 you have to take whatever you are feeling inside and turn it into a positive because I was ‘hot’ and it was trying to use that fire as a fuel to propel yourself forward.
“So it was great and it shows where my game is at the moment as I was able to do that.
“Also one of the big things for me in Major Championships is to get off to a good starts and if you look at my three wins in the Majors I have always got off to a good start and it was important to do that today and hopefully I can continue to be up there for the rest of the tournament.
“And I agree it could have been a very special round today but I will take what I have been given and enjoy my dinner tonight.”
But while McIlroy’s star continues to shine brightly hopes of the USA Ryder Cup team regaining the Ryder Cup looked gloomy after certain automatic Gleneagles qualifiers Matt Kuchar and Jason Dufner withdrew through injury.
Kuchar pulled out before teeing-off with a bad back while a bulging disc in Dufner’s neck side-lined him after 10 holes.
Kuchar, who is currently fifth on the USA team table, withdrew with a back injury and without playing a shot.
The eighth-ranked Dufner revealed on the eve of his defence of the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy he was battling a bulging disc and succumb to the pain in pulling out after 10 holes.
“I have been feeling pretty bad all week,” said Dufner.
“I felt bad last week and I also haven’t made a birdie in 45 holes and I’m just not able to play golf right now.
“I also don’t need to be out here. I have tried to compete and give it a go, but it is just pointless.”
However Tiger Woods was pleased with his three under par 74 and just four days after looking like a cripple in struggling to stand upright after dislodging the Sacrum bone in his lower back.
“The back’s a little bit stiff, but that’s about it,” he said.
“I’m hitting the ball fine on the range and had my swing dialled in but unfortunately didn’t carry it to the golf course.”
