Rory McIlroy’s 9-iron BREAKS mid-shot and he uses his putter backwards… but still recovers to mount challenge for BMW PGA Championship title at Wentworth
- McIlroy in contention for PGA Championship after chaotic day at Wentworth
- The Northern Irish golfer broke a club and putted backwards to card 67
Rory McIlroy plucked up courage, broke a club mid-stroke and made a backward putt, but somehow managed to use the difficulties of an odd day to his advantage.
After one round at the BMW PGA Championship, he is in strong contention.
He said his 67 at Wentworth was the most eventful in his 16 years at the DP World Tour’s premier tournament, culminating in a strange moment on the 12th hole.
McIlroy had already reached four under par when, with 179 yards to go on the par five, he played his second shot and watched in amazement as the head of his nine-iron flew off at impact and bounced down the fairway.
Although the head had somehow become detached from the shaft, McIlroy’s ball fared better – coming to rest seven feet from the cup and a two-putt birdie followed before the club was reassembled and handed back to the world No. 3 on the 16th.
Rory McIlroy is strongly in the race for the PGA Championship after the first day at Wentworth
McIlroy broke a club and had to putt backwards in a chaotic opening match of the PGA Championship
“I’ve definitely broken a few clubs after a golf shot, but I can’t remember ever having a head fall off my head (while hitting a shot),” he said.
‘I hit my 9-iron on the ninth hole and it looked like the barrel was coming loose, but it was actually the head coming loose from the shaft.
‘Of course I didn’t realise that when I hit the 12th. It was a bit of a strange feeling, but luckily the ball went where I wanted it to. It could have been a lot worse.’
McIlroy, who trails England’s Matthew Baldwin (7-under par) by two holes, has been battling a chest infection this week as he attempts to consolidate his position on the season points list.
A win here would take him significantly closer to a sixth victory at the Race to Dubai in November, as he seeks to surpass Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight. He made a fast start with a run of four birdies from the third inning before losing a stroke in the seventh.
On the eighth hole, he drew attention by using the back of his putter, feeling out of place near the water around the green. But after saving a par, he took the lead at six under par with birdies on nine, 12 and 13.
His momentum stalled when he snapped off the tee on the par-five 17th, before bogeying the final hole, also a par-five, after losing a wild approach shot in the trees.
McIlroy scored 67 points in what was the most eventful performance of his championship career
McIlroy joins Shane Lowry and Bob MacIntyre on five under – one ahead of Danny Willett
“It was a bit of a rollercoaster but most of the incidents worked out in my favour so I’m happy,” said McIlroy.
World number 363 Baldwin shot 65, with Denmark’s Niklas Norgaard and Belgium’s Thomas Detry a stroke behind. Ryder Cup duo Shane Lowry and Bob MacIntyre joined McIlroy on five under, one ahead of Danny Willett, who is looking to stop a run of five missed cuts.