Rory McIlroy already given strong warning ahead of the PGA Championship after what he did throughout the Truist Championship

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Rory McIlroy might be some people’s favourite for the PGA Championship this week but the Northern Irishman has been warned he’ll be nowhere near Scottie Scheffler and co if he doesn’t fix one element of his game.

McIlroy still managed a T7 finish at The Truist Championship despite not being at his best.

However, it was a performance littered with mistakes and in particular, McIlroy struggled off the tee with the big stick.

• READ MORE: Shane Lowry takes matters into his own hands at the Truist Championship after demanding big change from the PGA Tour

Those struggles came after McIlroy had boasted about it being a course to hit it long but in the end, he wasn’t able to find nearly enough fairways.

And now, ahead of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow this week, McIlroy has been warned he simply won’t win if he doesn’t tighten up the driver.

Rory McIlroy told to sharpen up his driving or face losing out at the PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy is one of the longest players on tour with driver and when he is on it, there are few better – if anyone – in the world.

However, he was wayward at Philadelphia Cricket Club and Sky Sports Golf analyst Simon Holmes has warned McIlroy it simply must improve.

“He came here and he said in his press conference on Wednesday that ‘I am just taking driver everywhere, it looks perfect for me’. He did not drive the ball well at all. He missed it left. He missed it right. He recovered it pretty well,” Holmes said.

“I think he comes off of this thinking that I could not possibly have had a higher score. If he came here to free wheel and test his driver it needs work. That driving next week is not going to get it done. He bullies a golf course like Quail Hollow with amazing tee shots but they have got to find the fairway.

“He will have to improve that if he is really going to give Scottie Scheffler and a couple of other guys a really good run and be the dominant player next week.”

• READ MORE: Justin Thomas says he disappointed himself with something he did during the final day at the Truist Championship

Rory McIlroy’s driving stats in 2025

Everyone knows that if Rory McIlroy is playing well with the driver then he is nearly always going to be in contention to win.

He hits it a mile, and on a lot of par fives, can often be left with a short-iron or even wedge into the green.

Nevertheless, he has to be on it at Quail Hollow, with tree trouble and difficult rough making anything off the short stuff tough to recover from.

Despite leading in certain categories, McIlroy simply has to get more accurate with driver.

If not, then the PGA will get away from him and while he might be in contention still, consistent players like Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, and even the in-form Justin Thomas, will go clear.