You would be hard pressed to count the number of times in his career Rory McIlroy has posted a round of golf without a single birdie.
And for 17 holes of the opening round of the weather-affected Truist Championship that is what is looked like for the double Masters champion.
Returning to competition for a first time since his glorious Augusta National back-to-back success, McIlroy stood on his 18th tee not having posted one birdie on the Quail Hollow course where in 2010 he secured the first of currently 30 PGA Tour victories.
Wearing a white top and navy blue trousers honouring the 15th anniversary of Seve Ballesteros’ passing, McIlroy admitted: “I can’t remember the last time I played a round of golf and didn’t have a birdie.”
ON OWN 16th YEAR @PGATOUR VICTORY
ANNIVERSARY ….Rors @McIlroyRory also prouly honours @SeveBallesteros passing 15 years on day one @TruistChamp
Read: https://t.co/hJKFAH4NPc
✅️ @TOURMISS https://t.co/cEt6C3nfA1
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) May 8, 2026
It’s something that McIlroy has done seven times in his lengthy PGA TOUR career, most recently at the 2024 Masters. It felt likely that Thursday would be his eighth on TOUR without a birdie or better. But one incredible approach and his longest made putt of the day changed that, giving McIlroy a 1-under 70.
But McIlroy hoisted a 9-iron from the left rough 194 yards over the trees, his ball stopping 15 feet from the hole. He raised his arms in sardonic celebration when the putt found the bottom of the hole.
McIlroy set a personal best by starting Thursday’s round with 17 consecutive pars; his previous record of 15 was set back in 2010. He also tied his personal best for most pars in a round. He did it on two previous occasions, making a lone birdie in one of those rounds and a lone bogey in the other.
McIlroy will start the second round seven strokes behind leader Matt McCarty, who took advantage of a Quail Hollow Club softened by overnight rains that delayed Thursday’s start until 12:30 p.m.
Still, it was a solid return to the TOUR for McIlroy, who is making his first start since winning a second straight Masters. He gained approximately a stroke on the field with both his driving and approach play but lost strokes around and on the greens.
“I wasn’t frustrated, I was hitting good putts,” McIlroy said. Some days they just don’t want to go in.”
FOOTNOTE …
You may have noted in the video clip of McIlroy birdieing his closing hole that playing partner Justin Rose also honoured Seve’s passing in also being decked out in Seve’s 1984 Open Champioinship victory colours of while and blue.
Somewhat sadly, it was something not picked-up by the PGA Tour nor asked of McIlroy post his opening round.
