Rory McIlroy kicked off his second round at the US PGA Championship with a promising start, netting two early birdies after a frustrating opening round. The 37-year-old golfer, who was visibly upset with his initial performance of four-over 74, aimed to improve significantly as he began the day eight shots behind clubhouse leader Alex Smalley.

Despite a rough start, where he found himself in the rough off the tee on the first hole, McIlroy managed to recover and make par. His momentum built as he secured birdies at both the second and fourth holes, marking the beginning of his ascent up the leaderboard.

The challenge at Aronimink Golf Club has proven formidable, with many top players struggling to adapt. Notably, McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammates, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood, posted rounds of 76 and 75, respectively, highlighting the course's difficulty. World number one Scottie Scheffler echoed this sentiment, calling the pin locations the “hardest I’ve seen on tour” after managing a one-over round of 71, remaining within two of the lead.

McIlroy's performance is particularly noteworthy as he seeks to secure back-to-back major wins following his successful defense of the Masters title last month. He shared the course with fellow major champions Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth. Meanwhile, South African Aldrich Potgieter moved ahead on the leaderboard, now five under, after initially sharing the lead with six other players.