Sports

Seven Things I Learned Following Rory McIlroy at the First Round of the PGA Championship

By Tyler Lauletta Sports Illustrated

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. - Rory McIlroy's first round at the PGA Championship did not go according to plan. The two-time reigning Masters champion entered the tournament as the second favorite, trailing only Scottie Scheffler on the odds sheets, and was the headliner of the marquee group of the morning alongside Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm.

Rahm and Spieth held up their end of the superstar bargain, both posting rounds of 1 under and hitting a few shots that got the crowds cheering. McIlroy, however, struggled, fighting against himself all day and at times looking utterly baffled by the greens at Aronimink Golf Club en route to shooting 4 over par.

Asked to sum up his round, McIlroy offered one word: "S-."

But as any golfer knows, the toughest days on the course are often when we learn the most, and while McIlroy was understandably frustrated with his play, I certainly learned a lot about golf watching him.

I followed McIlroy, Rahm and Spieth from their first shots off the tee to their final putts of the day. While I've covered golf tournaments in the past, this was my first time covering a major, and also my first time having a front-row seat for such a threesome. I tried to soak in as much knowledge as I could throughout the day, from the players, the course, the crowds and the pace at which major championship golf moves. I learned a lot! Here are my findings.

Rory McIlroy's gravity is incredible

 

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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 2:54 PM.

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