Rory McIlroy Avoids Cut Amid Nonconforming Driver Controversy at US PGA

Rory McIlroy faced a challenging start at the US PGA Championship after his driver was deemed non-conforming by the USGA, forcing a late club change that affected his performance. Despite hitting only four fairways in his opening round and scoring a three-over-par 74, McIlroy managed to narrowly make the cut with a second-round 69, remaining one over par and nine strokes behind the leader. His driving was initially poor with the new club but improved somewhat on the second day, though his short game and recovery skills kept his hopes alive. The incident echoes previous experiences with non-conforming clubs, and McIlroy has expressed concerns about fairness and the need for broader testing across all players. Meanwhile, other contenders like Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas and Matt Fitzpatrick moved into contention, highlighting the competitive field at Quail Hollow. McIlroy's recent Masters victory and history of success at the venue provide some optimism, but he faces a significant task to contend for his sixth major title this week.