After the rollercoaster that was his Masters win, Rory McIlroy faced a much tougher challenge at the PGA Championship — and it showed.
On the second day, he barely made the cut, finishing exactly on the line that allowed him to keep playing through the weekend.
For a player fresh off such a massive career highlight, it’s a reminder that golf can humble even the best.
A Nail-Biting Finish on the 18th Hole
The drama came down to the very last hole of the day, a daunting par four stretching 474 yards.
McIlroy stepped up to the tee at level par, clinging to just inside the cut line.
Earlier, he had missed a short three-foot putt that would have bogeyed him on the 17th, so the pressure was on.
Then things got messy. His drive veered wildly left, smashing into the hospitality stand and landing perilously close to a creek. Miraculously, it didn’t go in the water.
From there, he hacked his way to the rough near the green, chipped poorly, and two-putted for bogey.
That bogey was all he needed to cling to the cut — just barely.
Not the Momentum You’d Expect After a Masters Win
It wasn’t the confident charge you might expect from a champion riding high.
McIlroy’s 69 on day two included a frustrated club toss on the 13th hole, showing his struggles.
By the end of the day, he was nine shots behind the leader, Jhonattan Vegas from Venezuela.
While the leaderboard looks dominated by some surprising names, a weekend surge isn’t out of the question.
The likes of Scottie Scheffler at five under and Bryson DeChambeau at three under are notable challengers, keeping the competition fierce.
Surprises Among the Leaders and English Contenders
Vegas, ranked 70th in the world, leads, alongside Matt Fitzpatrick, who’s been having a rough year but played brilliantly here with back-to-back rounds of 68.
Fitzpatrick’s recovery is impressive, especially after parting ways with his caddie recently.
Also making noise is 52-year-old Richard Bland at three under, joined by fellow Englishman Aaron Rai.
Tyrrell Hatton, known for his fiery personality, was on track for a solid showing before a meltdown on the last hole left him with a triple bogey and a final score of 73.
Tyrrell Hatton’s Emotional Collapse and Viral Moment
Hatton started strong, reaching five under, but that triple bogey on 18 derailed his round and sent him finishing at one under overall.
His frustration boiled over in a now-viral clip where he shouted a string of expletives after hitting his ball into a creek.
He later admitted he was “running hot” and is known for sometimes saying the wrong thing.
Despite the meltdown, Hatton remains one of the game’s most exciting and unpredictable characters, and many wonder if his fiery nature holds him back or pushes him forward.
What’s Next for the Weekend
Hatton knows he needs two flawless rounds to make a serious impact now.
“I’ve had some decent scores around this course in the past,” he said, optimistic about his chances.
Meanwhile, Vegas’s lead came with some mixed feelings.
He finished with a double bogey but got a huge break on the previous hole when a wildly errant tee shot bounced off a bunker rake and ended up near the flag, helping him save par.
Big Names Who Didn’t Make the Cut
The weekend won’t feature some big names like Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Ludvig Aberg, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Shane Lowry, and Dustin Johnson — all missed the cut.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele managed to survive with a 71, sitting at one over.
McIlroy’s Weekend Challenge Ahead
So, Rory McIlroy will be out there this weekend, hanging in there but facing an uphill battle nine shots behind the leader.
Whether he can find that Masters-winning form again remains to be seen, but for now, just making the cut feels like a small victory.g