Those expecting to see Rory McIlroy take the PGA Championship by the scruff of the neck would have been left extremely disappointed after Thursday at Quail Hollow.
There were great expectations for Rory McIlroy ahead of the PGA Championship. Of course, he completed the career grand slam last month, while he has won four times at Quail Hollow during his career.
But just like after the opening round at The Masters, McIlroy has got his work cut out if he is going to win this week.
The Northern Irishman finished Thursday at three over par. The 36-year-old made a double bogey on the 16th hole, while further bogeys came at 11, one and nine.
Paul McGinley asks a question of Rory McIlroy after the first round at the PGA Championship
As things stand, McIlroy is likely to need a much better day in the second round to even make the cut. But it seems that he has also got a point to prove.
Obviously, no event is likely to come with the same pressure as The Masters did last month. However, speaking on Sky Sports, Paul McGinley suggested that he has some doubts as to whether McIlroy is in the right place to win another major so soon.
“I think he will reset. It’s just a question of has this tournament come too soon for him. I mean, I know he has spoken a lot about trying to take over Nick Faldo in terms of the most winning most in recent times at European player. That’s a big goal for him,” he said.
“He wants to be the standout player of an era. He’s got a couple of guys to jump over in that regard too. So there’s a lot of goals that will come, and I’ve no doubt I said it for a number of years now, if he wins one major, he’ll win three or four more. and I still believe that.
“I just wonder the last month with all the excitement, is he in a place mentally to reset this week? It’s very, very difficult.”
Rory McIlroy potentially facing disappointing PGA Championship outcome for only the second time in his career
The PGA Championship is the major which McIlroy has had the most success in during his career, simply based on the fact that he has won the event twice.
But it is also the major in which McIlroy has missed the fewest cuts. He went into this week having played on the weekend in 15 of his 16 appearances in the PGA Championship.
He has missed at least three cuts at each of the other three majors.
McIlroy recovered from a really disappointing end to his first round at The Masters, of course. He may need an even more impressive fightback to bring himself back into the mix at the halfway stage this week.
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