US PGA Championship golf: Rory McIlroy makes blistering start as Tiger Woods toils in first round

Rory McIlroy made a glorious start to the 104th US PGA Championship as a five-under par opening round of 65 saw him claim the early lead at Southern Hills Country Club in Oklahoma. The Northern Irishman – winner of the Wanamaker Trophy in 2012 and 2014 – enjoyed six birdies and two bogeys with his putter as hot as the steamy Tulsa sunshine.

Ad/> Starting out from the 10th tee alongside fellow major champions Tiger Woods (74) and Jordan Spieth (72) in the marquee group of Thursday morning, McIlroy chipped his ball stone dead for a birdie on the par-four 456-yard 12th hole before finding some vintage ball striking. PGA Championship'I'm going to get stronger' – Woods ready to battle for major success ahead of US PGA title bidYESTERDAY AT 15:35 Three more birdies followed on the 13th, 14th and 15th as the four-time major champion marched to the turn in 31 amid a blizzard of 300-yard plus drives.

/> The momentum continued with further birdies on the 2nd and 5th holes as he reached six under, but errant tee shots at the lengthy par-three 6th and 8th holes saw him drop back from holding the outright lead. But with his length and accuracy off the tee working to great effect, McIlroy drained another swinging birdie from 20 feet on the nine to conclude his day on minus five, one clear of Will Zalatoris (66).

PGA Championship 2022: Live first round updates and scores from Golf Digest DeChambeau withdraws from US PGA Championship — not 'ready to compete at golf’s highest level' Woods looked in fine fettle early on in his second competitive appearance since his life-threatening car crash in February 2021. The 15-time major champion enjoyed birdies on 10 and 14, but toiled for consistency as the round continued with bogeys on 15, 18,