VIRGINIA WATER, England — Defending champion Rory McIlroy shot a 1-under 71 on Thursday, leaving him four shots behind clubhouse leader Robert Karlsson at the BMW PGA Championship after a mixed performance he blamed on mental fatigue.
Playing for the fourth straight week, the top-ranked McIlroy failed to recapture the form that saw him surge to a record seven-shot victory at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow last week.
McIlroy had two birdies and two bogeys in his first five holes, missing at 12-foot putt for par at the first hole after failing to find the green with his approach.