Rory McIlroy says he's fighting swing, mystery illness after R1 of US PGA
Rory McIlroy says he appears to be fighting his swing and a mystery illness after the first round of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
Rory McIlroy claimed he's fighting something of a mystery illness after he battled hard to post an opening 71 at the PGA Championship.
McIlroy, who turned 34 recently, arrived at Oak Hill appearing to want to try out something new.
That something new? Trying to avoid the distraction of talking about LIV Golf. He will make a conscious effort to avoid that, he said.
Perhaps McIlroy thinks this approach will yield some success in the major championships. He had a miserable Masters and missed the cut.
It led to him taking a break from the game and effectively being fined by the PGA Tour for skipping a designated event.
His decision was surprising given that those bumper prize purse events were something the Ulsterman campaigned hard for.
McIlroy found himself six shots adrift of the early surprise leader Eric Cole when play was suspended due to darkness on Thursday.
The Northern Irishman told the media he was alarmed to see his Whoop (fitness watch) data when he woke up in the morning.
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McIlroy started slowly and made three bogeys on his opening nine holes before sparking into life at No. 2, holing a 36-footer from off the green to save par.
He could only laugh.
McIlroy said:
McIlroy went on to card three more birdies to sign for an opening 1-over 71.
More GolfMagic articles from the 2023 US PGA Championship:
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- Two-time major champ withdraws from Oak Hill
- Canada's best hope at US PGA
- How injured is Jordan Spieth? Just ask him
- CBS commentator blasts inaccurate claims over Lefty
- Tour pro gets the beers in after hitting fan
- Koepka gets snippy after admitting he 'choked' at Masters
- Jason Day refuses to reveal Tiger text
- Dustin Johnson hints of bedroom incident with Paulina
- Paige Spiranac continues indignation towards Rory
- Paulina Gretzky gets late night golf lesson from DJ
- PGA of America boss on LIV OWGR points application
- R1, R2 tee times
- Jon Rahm drops amusing DJ story
- Rory McIlroy to avoid LIV 'narrative'
- GolfMagic Fantasy picks
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