Rory McIlroy made a notable return to the PGA Tour at the Truist Championship, carding a solid one-under par 70 with 17 consecutive pars before finally sinking a birdie on the 18th hole. After a four-week break following his successful defense of The Masters in April, McIlroy, a four-time winner at Quail Hollow, reflected on his performance, stating he felt more motivated than ever to build on his previous success.

Despite his strong driving, including a remarkable 335-yard drive on the par four second hole, McIlroy struggled with his putting, missing several birdie opportunities. He expressed his mindset during the round:

I wasn't frustrated, I was hitting good putts. I just needed to figure out the reads a little bit better.

His final birdie on the 18th provided a sense of relief and something to build on for future rounds.

At the top of the leaderboard, Matt McCarty led with an impressive opening round of eight-under par 64, followed closely by Sungjae Im at seven-under. The chasing pack featured notable players such as Kristoffer Reitan, Harry Hall, Nicolai Højgaard, Sepp Straka, and Nick Taylor, all at five-under.

Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood ignited his round with an eagle on the first hole, finishing with a four-under par 67. Despite missing a par putt on the 18th, Fleetwood's solid performance marked a positive turn in his recent form. He noted the importance of confidence in putting:

Sometimes if you're not seeing it going in, then it feels very difficult.

Justin Rose finished level-par, struggling with his new clubs but maintaining a competitive spirit throughout the round.