Former Ryder Cup captain questions Rory McIlroy's mindset after nightmare start to US PGA

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley questioned whether Rory McIlroy's recent success hindered him on day one of the PGA Championship.

When McIlroy, 36, finished his opening round at Quail Hollow he had slipped eight shots back of surprise early leader Ryan Gerard. 

The Northern Irishman managed just two birdies in his opening round of 3-over 74 and only hit four fairways. 

He was playing in the marquee group alongside World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Xander Schauffele. 

All three players struggled on day one of the major, but Scheffler came up trumps over the closing holes to card a 2-under 69. Schauffele carded a 71. 

Scheffler later blasted the PGA of America's decision not to allow competitors in the field play from preferred lies from the fairways. 

McGinley told Sky Sports he feels McIlroy was always going to struggle given the 'positive turmoil' he has endured over the last month.

McIlroy completed the career grand slam at the 2025 Masters and won his first major title in more than a decade. 

"Is he in a place mentally to go out and re-set?" McGinley asked.

"It's difficult. It's really difficult when you are coming off such a high. 

"I always feel like Rory is at his best when he has got a point to prove [and] he's got the pointy elbows out and he's chasing something down. 

"I think all of the success he's had [and] enjoying the success in the last month may be is not conducive to putting him in that mindset."

McGinley stressed that he believes McIlroy is 'not out of this tournament' despite now facing a battle to make the 36-hole cut.

How did Rory McIlroy play on day one?

McIlroy's opening round was littered with sloppy errors. 

He was particularly poor off the tee and only managed to hit four fairways. 

McIlroy began the major with a birdie at the par-5 10th but immediately gave that shot back by three-putting at the very next hole. 

McIlroy picked up a birdie at the par-5 15th but left the 16th green with a double bogey six on his card. 

The Ulsterman hit his tee shot left into the trees and could only advance his golf ball 65 yards back into the fairway. 

From there, McIlroy missed the green right and couldn't hole a 12-foot put to salvage a bogey. 

McIlroy dropped another shot at the opening hole (his 11th) despite finding the fairway. 

He notched seven pars in a row before he dropped a shot at the last. 

McIlroy has an excellent record at Quail Hollow and therefore it is particularly surprising that he struggled so much on day one. 

Of McIlroy's 29 PGA Tour wins, four have arrived at Quail Hollow. 

The most recent of which was the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. 

McIlroy filed for a shock divorce from his wife Erica Stoll immediately after that victory but the pair reconciled before the U.S. Open.