Rory McIlroy was forced to hang tough on day one of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill and is the best of the Irish.
The Holywood man is one of four Irish competing at the major with Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Seamus Power in action.
It has been a tough 2023 for McIlroy who has fallen out of form since his win in Dubai earlier this year.
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The four-time major winner missed the cut at the Masters and followed it up with a tie for 47th at the Wells Fargo.
Starting on the back nine, McIlroy was clearly struggling off the tee and was three-over-par for his front nine with bogeys on the 15, 17 and 18.
But the former world number one had a change in fortunes with birdies on the third and fourth holes but did follow it up with a bogey on the fifth.
McIlroy would manage one more birdie on the eight to finish at one-over par.
The score means McIlroy is six shots off leader Eric Cole who shot a stunning five-under-par while Bryson DeChambeau shot four-under-par and Scottie Scheffler, Corey Conners and Dustin Johnson shot three-under-par.
Padraig Harrington was next best of the Irish and sits a shot behind McIlroy at two-over-par and is in a tie for 42nd while Shane Lowry is a further shot behind at three-over-par while Seamus Power is five-over-par.
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