Rory McIlroy's reaction to finally making a birdie on 18 was great. Tommy Fleetwood's line was even better
Rory McIlroy's first round since winning a second consecutive Masters turned out to be one of the strangest rounds of his career. The six-time major champ made a personal record 17 straight pars to start his Thursday at Quail Hollow during the first round of the Truist Championship.
Now, for regular weekend golfers, that level of play and consistency is the dream. But for a birdie machine like McIlroy, he felt like he was in purgatory—especially at a golf course where he's won four times before. But on his final hole of the day—Quail Hollow's brutish par-4 ninth—Rory finally rattled a birdie in from 15 feet. And he gave a fantastic reaction.
Well done, Rory. Although, moments after, Tommy Fleetwood delivered an even better line to his longtime Ryder Cup teammate.
"I would have missed that putt on purpose," Fleetwood said. "You could have missed it on purpose."
The all 18 par round would have been pretty rare, but Rory would rather finish in red numbers. Obviously.
"I can't remember the last time on tour that I had a round of golf that I didn't make a birdie in," McIlroy responded.
Must be nice, Rory. But let us jog your memory. You've actually done it seven times, according to the PGA Tour, the last time coming at the 2024 Masters. But an 18-par round would have been a first for Rory.
Anyway, if McIlroy is going to win for a fifth time at Quail Hollow, he's going to need to make a lot fewer pars. The 37-year-old starts Friday's second round seven shots off Matt McCarty's lead.