McIlroy's Club Head Flies Off During Shot at BMW PGA Championship - What Happened?

Rory McIlroy overcame a bizarre incident at the PGA Championship in Wentworth on Thursday, where his club head flew off mid-shot while he was on the par-five 12th hole, leaving him in disbelief but ultimately unscathed. The world number three went on to secure a birdie at the hole despite this unusual event.

An Eventful Round

McIlroy, who lost out to Dane Rasmus Hojgaard at the Irish Open by one shot last weekend, was aiming to repeat his only previous PGA Championship success in 2014 at Wentworth. McIlroy had already produced a rare back-handed putt to salvage a par at the 8th hole before the incident. He finished the first round at five-under-par, which was good enough for a tie for fourth place and two strokes behind the leader Matthew Baldwin.

The Incident on the 12th

While taking his second shot on the 12th, McIlroy’s club head came off the shaft and flew down the fairway, leaving him baffled as he tried to figure out what had just happened. Despite this, he managed to get his shot to within 7 feet of the hole, leading to one of his seven birdies for the round.

“It was a bit of a weird feeling,” McIlroy said. “Obviously you’re expecting the weight of the club to just pull through and there was nothing there.”

McIlroy's Resilience

The incident didn’t deter McIlroy, who made a solid start and managed to stay in contention. He birdied the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th holes, and then added another two on the 12th and 13th, putting him in a tie for the lead before dropping a shot on the last hole. This was a testament to his resilience and ability to adapt to unexpected situations.

“It was a bit of a rollercoaster but most of the incidents worked out in my favour so I am happy,” said McIlroy.

Looking Ahead

McIlroy’s next round is scheduled for Friday, and he’ll be hoping to continue his strong start and make a run for the title. With his resilience and determination, anything is possible for McIlroy.

It remains to be seen if this unusual incident will become a recurring theme for McIlroy, but one thing is for certain: his ability to adapt and overcome adversity will be key to his success at Wentworth.