Rory McIlroy endured a wild opening day at the BMW PGA Championship as he broke a club mid-shot and was forced to putt left-handed.

In an incident-packed round at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the Northern Irishman carded a memorable 67.

The club head fell out but despite that, the shot landed six feet from the holeGETTY

McIlroy suffered two major stumbling blocks but still took the leadGetty

McIlroy took some time off the course after his gutting collapse from the lead at the US Open and then missed the cut at The Open.

Now back in Britain, he’s finally having some fun with his bad luck at the latest European Tour event in Virginia Water.

McIlroy was taking part in the first day of action and found himself on the green at the eighth perilously close to the water.

On another day he may have been frustrated with his luck as the ball was almost impossible to hit, but on this occasion he improvised to near perfection.

To get an orthodox shot away, the 35-year-old would have had to be in the water six feet below, but instead he turned the other way, and put his club back to front.

On for a birdie, McIlroy made solid contact, and set himself up to tap in for par in the most difficult of circumstances.

That may have been enough for the day for most, but not for McIlroy, who quickly went viral again four holes later.

On the fairway at the 12th, his approach shot ended up with his club head flying into the distance, much to the shock of the audience.

However, despite the mishap, the ball still ended up within six feet of the hole.

He then put the ball away, going six under and temporarily moving into sole lead for the day.

McIlroy’s action-packed day took another turn when he saw his tee shot on the 17th bounce out of the trees before hitting his approach to the 18th out of bounds.

That cost the 2014 champion his second bogey of the day and, at five under par, left him a shot behind clubhouse leader Niklas Norgaard.

“I don’t think it’s ever happened to me before,” McIlroy said of the club head flying off.

“I hit nine iron on the ninth hole and it looked as if the ferrule was coming loose, but it was actually the head detaching from the shaft.

“I obviously didn’t realise that when I hit the shot on 12. It was a bit of a weird feeling. I hit the ball and obviously you’re expecting the weight of the club to just pull through and there was nothing there.

“Thankfully the ball went where I wanted it to. It could have been a lot worse but thankfully got it repaired and got it back on the 16th.

“I’ve certainly broken a few [clubs] after shots, but I don’t remember when a head’s flown off on me like that, because the shaft was intact. Just glued the shaft back in and we were ready to go again.

“It was a bit of rollercoaster round but most of the incidents worked out in my favour so I’m happy about that. I would have taken five under at the start of the day, especially as the wind is getting up here.

“Overall it was a good round of golf, it could have been a little bit better but a solid start.”

On a day of low scoring at Wentworth, McIlroy’s 67 was matched by Ryder Cup team-mates Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre, with 2019 winner Danny Willett returning a 68.

The former Masters champion underwent shoulder surgery after this tournament last year and has only played eight events in 2024, making the cut at Augusta National but missing the cut in each of his last five starts.

“It’s been tougher than I thought,” Willett admitted after a round containing six birdies and two bogeys.

“The first six months when I wasn’t doing anything was phenomenal. Just sat on the sofa, go to the gym every day but zero pressure – it could take as long as it wanted to.

“I think once I started getting back into trying to get ready to play, we just realised how insane this game drives you.

“I played Augusta because conditions were perfect for me to have a chance. It was firm, it was fast, it was windy, but then other tournaments I’ve played I’ve obviously not performed and not taken much from.

“When you’re trying, working, doing everything you think is right and shooting 75, it’s hard to take the positives from it.”