Rory McIlroy stays after rule violation at PGA | Golf News

Ahead of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, Rory McIlroy was unexpectedly required to exchange his trusty driver. Fresh from attaining the profession Grand Slam with his win at the Masters in Augusta National final month, McIlroy’s efficiency this week has been considerably lackluster, sitting at one-over-par.

However, even before the event started, McIlroy confronted a setback. According to Sirius XM, the USGA deemed his driver non-conforming, forcing the Northern Irishman to take away one of his most dependable golf equipment from the bag.

The particular problem with the driving force stays unclear, but thorough checks confirmed McIlroy might no longer use it. Providing more insight into the USGA’s testing course of, Johnson Wagner defined on the radio station: “The USGA conducts these tests pretty much every here out here.

“They take a look at all facets of the face, and drivers fail all the time. Every single week, somebody’s driver fails. It is by no fault of the participant, they do not know how to do it, it’s a subtle testing system. When you might be a participant like Rory McIlroy, who hits the ball as laborious as he does, the face naturally thins out.”

“Rory McIlroy with his pace, it thins out a little faster, and it’s unlucky it occurred the week of a main.”

McIlroy has yet to make a statement on the swap, having chosen to skip press obligations once more after his second round ended. Normally celebrated as one of the PGA Tour’s most skilled drivers, McIlroy’s tee game has been less than stellar.

After an opening round three-over 74, the two-time PGA champion managed to hit just four fairways and barely improved with two additional fairways hit on day two. Amidst his troubles on the drive, McIlroy still showed signs of improvement as he shot a two-under 69, securing his place for weekend play.

For the Masters winner, the start was promising, going three-under to even out his score for the competition. The latter half of the course proved challenging, with a mix of gains and setbacks—three birdies undone by four bogeys, particularly on the last two holes.

The finish left McIlroy with a bitter taste, leaving him nine shots adrift of halfway leader Jhonattan Vegas. Despite the setback, McIlroy might seek comfort in his past at the Charlotte course, where he astonishingly overturned a similar gap to clinch his first PGA Tour victory at Quail Hollow back in 2010.

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He’s celebrated victory four times at this course throughout his career, and expressed his affection for the venue ahead of the tournament. “[It’s] at all times good to come back to Quail Hollow, for apparent causes,” he shared with journalists earlier in the week.

“I’ve clearly great recollections from this place. First win on the PGA Tour 15 years in the past. Winning final yr, I most likely performed my best golf of the yr right here, particularly at the weekend. Look, it has been an wonderful 2025. There’s been a lot of great golf performed, but there’s still a lot of golf left to play this yr.”