Rory McIlroy: "I don't think that's ever happened to me before"

Rory McIlroy revealed he's never had a club break mid-shot after an incident packed opening round at the BMW PGA Championship.

McIlroy returned a card for a 5-under 67 on Thursday at Wentworth. 

The 35-year-old Northern Irishman tore round the front nine, making four consecutive birdies on the spin from the par-4 3rd. 

A bogey at the 7th followed by a birdie at the 9th saw McIlroy turn in 31. 

Undoubtedly, the highlight of his round came at the par-5 12th when the head of his club flew off after he struck his approach. 

Fortunately for the four-times major champion, his TP5x ended up settling six feet from the hole. 

He missed the eagle putt, but nonetheless was pleased with his first 18 holes at the DP World Tour's flagship event. 

"I don't think that's ever happened to me before," McIlroy told reporters after he played the back nine in 1-under. 

"I hit 9-iron on the 9th hole and it looked as if the ferrule was coming loose, but it was actually the head detaching from the shaft.

"I obviously didn't realise that when I hit the shot on 12. It was a bit of a weird feeling. 

"I hit the ball and obviously you're expecting the weight of the club to just pull through and there was nothing there.

"Thankfully the ball went where I wanted it to. It could have been a lot worse but thankfully [I] got it repaired and got it back on the 16th."

He added: "I've certainly broken a few [clubs] after shots, but I don't remember when a head’s flown off on me like that, because the shaft was intact. 

"[I have] just glued the shaft back in and we were ready to go again.

"It was a bit of rollercoaster round but most of the incidents worked out in my favour so I'm happy about that.

"I would have taken 5-under at the start of the day, especially as the wind is getting up here.

"Overall it was a good round of golf, it could have been a little bit better but a solid start."

One of the 'other' incidents McIlroy was referring to arrived at the par-5 17th when he snap-hooked his tee shot left 237 yards into the native area.

He somehow made a farcical par. 

McIlroy also hit his second shot at the 18th out of bounds but managed to escape with a bogey.

McIlroy wasn't the only player to start well. 

Denmark's Niklas Norgaard carded a 66 to trail early leader Matthew Baldwin by one stroke. 

McIlroy's Ryder Cup teammates Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre also went round in 67. 

Justin Rose finished on 3-under. 

Former champion Danny Willett carded a 68. 

The Englishman is still one the comeback trail from a nasty shoulder injury. 

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