FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Walking to the 18th tee, Rory McIlroy told caddie Harry Diamond that he couldn’t recall the last time he played a round without a birdie.
The streak remained intact, but his closing 5-foot birdie was about the only thing McIlroy did right Thursday at the PGA Championship. He shot a 2-over 72 that left him nine shots back of leader Brooks Koepka.
“Hopefully that birdie on the last was the turning point,” McIlroy said afterward. “Finish on a positive, come back tomorrow and hopefully get into red figures for the tournament.”
It was a curious opening round for McIlroy, who ranked second in the field in strokes gained: off the tee and missed only three greens but still shot 2 over par.