Rory McIlroy carded an impressive 66 in the opening round of the USPGA Championship at Valhalla, placing him four shots behind record-equalling leader Xander Shauffele.
After getting off to a flying start by birdieing two of his first four holes, McIlroy hit a superb shot from the rough off the pin.
It landed nicely allowing him to sink the putt, and the Co. Down golfer admitting that Lady Luck played her part, in his Sky Sports interview afterwards.
"It was pretty lucky for it to hit the pin and stop there, it could have went anywhere," he said. "Rode my luck a little bit, nice to make that putt and make a birdie.
McIlroy dismissed the idea that luck played its part on the sixth, putting a nice chipped finish down to good technique.
"I wouldn't say this one was lucky, I'd say this was good technique," he said. I played it really well, it was nice to get up there and see that my ball wasn't in the bunker and took advantage of the good break, not being in the sand."
Can Rory win again at Valhalla?
Rory McIlroy was in a positive mood after carding an impressive five-under opening round at the PGA Championship ⛳ pic.twitter.com/SPihWFgqLG— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 16, 2024
McIlroy admits to driving letting him down
McIlroy admitted himself that his driving let him down on occasion, and that he will be trying the channel the spirit of 2014 over the weekend, ten years on from when he won this event on the same Kentucky course.
"I hope I drive it a little bit better, like Rory 2014. I didn't drive it very well today. If I can put the ball on the fairway a little bit more. My game this year, in terms of putting scrambling, arm-play is coming togehter. If I can do all of that the way I have been and hit a few more fairways with the driver, I'm feeling pretty good."
Rory McIlroy hits the pin! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/eTlGJbhAor
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 16, 2024
Schauffele equals major record
Schauffele's 62 meant that he equalled the lowest score in men’s major championship history for the second time in 11 months, after he carded the same score at last year's US Open.
“It feels great,” Schauffele said afterwards. “It’s just day one but if someone had said I was going to shoot nine under I would certainly have taken it.
“I’ve been playing some really good golf, having a lot of close calls, so me and my team say why not keep chugging along?
“I’m very happy with the way I played but I can’t really think much more about it, just got to go and tee it up again tomorrow.”
See Also: 10 Years Later, It's Impossible Not To Get Sucked In By The Rory McIlroy Dream
