Rory McIlroy will undoubtedly look back on this year's US PGA Championship as another missed opportunity.
The Hollywood golfer found himself top of the leaderboard after the opening round on Thursday, in which he carded seven birdies and two bogeys in a round of 65 to record his lowest round in a major since the 2011 US Open.
He could only add a second round of 71 at Southern Hills, despite being part of the early-late wave of players who enjoyed by far the best of the conditions over the first two days in Tulsa on Friday.
On Saturday, McIlroy fell nine shots adrift following a disappointing 74.
The 33-year-old dropped four shots in three holes from the sixth before a birdie on the ninth seemingly steadied the ship.
A triple bogey on the 11th effectively ended the first round leader’s chances and although he birdied the 13th and came agonisingly close to a hole-in-one on the next, a birdie on the 16th was followed by a three-putt bogey on the last.
McIlroy's wait for a major win now goes all the way back to 2014 and golf fans were left asking if he will ever winone again following his latest disappointment.
One tweeted: "Rory McIlroy arrived at this major in form, had the best of the conditions on Thursday AND Friday and led after the first round. Still not going to win and is in danger of not even being in contention. Hard to see the scenario where he wins one of these at the moment."
Another said of McIlroy's inconsistency: "Yet again no consistency to his game whatsoever. His swing just doesn’t hold up to pressure whatsoever. He used to be able to rely on his draw, now I don’t know what his stock shape his. He looks uncomfortable shaping the ball either way, and his putting lacks any consistency."
Someone else commented: "I’m absolutely convinced and it’s a huge shout, that Rory McIlroy will never win a major again."
One other person posted: "Pains me to say it, but feel like a lot of it is mental. His swing doesn’t hold up with his approach shots under pressure, as much as it should. Combine that with poor putting and it’s a recipe for disaster."
"Rory McIlroy will never win another Major," read another post.
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