Rory McIlroy off the pace after error-strewn first round at US PGA Championship

Masters champion Rory McIlroy faces an uphill battle to claim back-to-back major titles after an error-strewn opening round in the 107th US PGA Championship.

McIlroy struggled to a three-over-par 74 to trail clubhouse leader Ryan Gerard by eight shots, with Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald surprisingly a shot off the pace alongside Ryan Fox, Alex Smalley and Stephan Jaeger.

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre were another stroke back on three under, alongside US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley.

McIlroy’s play-off victory over Justin Rose at Augusta National in April had made him just the sixth male golfer to complete a career grand slam and gave him a fifth major title, one behind Sir Nick Faldo.

The world number two was also strongly fancied to equal Faldo’s tally at the first opportunity at Quail Hollow, a venue where he won his first PGA Tour title in 2010 and has since claimed three more victories, including last year.

However, McIlroy, who hit just three fairways in regulation, was fortunate not to find the water with a number of pulled tee shots and unsurprisingly did not speak to the media before heading straight to the range after his round.

McIlroy was among the early starters from the 10th tee and despite missing the fairway and green on the downhill par five, he holed from 10 feet for birdie after a well-judged pitch.

A double-bogey at the 16th for Rory McIlroy...

His first double-bogey at Quail Hollow since 2010