Rory McIlroy had a tumultuous start at the BMW PGA Championship, carding a 67 despite an incident where the head of his 9-iron detached mid-shot on the par-5 12th hole. This bizarre occurrence saw him land the ball within seven feet of the pin, resulting in a tap-in birdie after he missed the eagle putt. McIlroy's round included a streak of four birdies early on, but he struggled towards the end, finishing with two bogeys, leaving him two shots behind leader Matthew Baldwin, who shot a bogey-free 65. McIlroy expressed relief that he was able to get the club repaired and resume play. He is currently tied for fourth with several other players, as he seeks to improve his standing in the Race to Dubai. Despite his challenges, McIlroy remains optimistic about his performance moving forward.