McIlroy cautious despite sensational opening 65 at Southern Hills
TULSA, OK - MAY 19: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the 2022 PGA Championship at the Southern Hills on May 19, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
RORY McIlroy insisted he can’t get ahead of himself after opening with a five-under 65 to take a one-shot lead in the US PGA at Southern Hills - his first lead after any round in a major since he won The Open in 2014.
It was also the Holywood star’s lowest opening round in a major since he opened with a six-under 65 en route to a record eight-shot win in the 2011 US Open at Congressional.
But while he made over 100 feet of putts and had just 25 putts in a seven-birdie round to lead by the minimum from Will Zalatoris and Tom Hoge, totally dominating Tiger Woods (74) and Jordan Spieth (72) with an awesome display of driving, iron play and putting, he’s not counting his chickens.
Without a major win for close to eight years, he led by three strokes with four to play before following bogeys at the par-three sixth and eighth by knocking in a 19 footer for birdie at the ninth.
“It’s a great start, but I am not getting ahead of myself,” said the world number seven, who was 30 over for the opening round of the 27 majors he has played since winning his fourth grand slam in the 2014 US PGA at Valhalla.
“I could have easily shot 68 or 69 and played the same golf and not feel as positive as I am now. I hit some great tee shots, some great iron shots and holed some nice putts.
“I did pretty much everything you need to do out there today and I am going to have to keep doing it for the next three days.”
The four-time major winner arrived in Tulsa playing well having closed with an eight-under 64 to finish second to Scottie Scheffler in the Masters and a fifth-place finish in the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks ago.
“I played the golf I played in the last few days of practice, so it was just a continuation of that,” a relaxed McIlroy said.
“I am very happy with where my game is, so it was nice to go out there and shoot a low one.
“I think it is easier to be relaxed when you feel like you’re playing well and you’re happy with your game.”
Pádraig Harrington struggled on the opposite side the course, finding six green side bunkers as he 32 putts in a seven-over 77.
"It was one of those days I compounded everything and everything that could go wrong went wrong,” Harrington said. "I didn’t hole any putts and it added up to momentum in the wrong direction.”
