Rory McIlroy faces challenges ahead of the PGA Championship, including a poor performance at the Truist Championship and a blister on his toe. These issues may impact his preparation for the tournament at Aronimink.
Key points
Rory McIlroy is struggling with a toe blister.
He had a poor showing at the Truist Championship.
The PGA Championship is at Aronimink.
McIlroy's preparation has been less than ideal.
Mentioned in this story
Aronimink
Rory McIlroyPGA ChampionshipTruist Championship
Photo by Phil Inglis/Getty Images
Photo by Phil Inglis/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy has hardly enjoyed the ideal preparation for the PGA Championship at Aronimink this week.
He came into Aronimink on the back of a seriously underwhelming tournament at the Truist Championship.
And over the last few days, the 37-year-old has been suffering with a blister on his toe during the build-up to the PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy already has two PGA Championship wins to his name, and he would dearly love to make that three at Aronimink this week.
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“When you look at the three events, where there is data here (Aronimink), so going back to the AT&T in 2010, 2011, and at the BMW, one thing is for sure, the winners weren’t the best drivers,“ Chamblee said.
*“*They weren’t the best iron players. They weren’t the best around the greens. But they were unbelievably good on the greens. They were the best.
*“*In the case of 2018, 2011 and, of course, 2010, Justin Rose right there as well. So it’s essentially what you do around the greens, and on the greens, when you’re looking at here.
*“*So, yes, with Rory, he has not (putted well), for whatever reason, going back to 2015.
Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
*“*He would have lost two and a half strokes almost a day, almost five strokes in two rounds. I’ll bet you, there are not that many players that would have played, all those PGA Championships. Nobody would have putted worse, on average, than Rory.
*“*For whatever reason, the PGA Championship has been very problematic for him on the greens, and looking at this year, it’s the worst part of his game.
*“*He’s 105th in strokes gained putting coming in here. I know he putted well at the Masters, and that’s technically not part of the data that is accumulated there, but it really wasn’t the best part of his game at Augusta.
*“*So the pressure is on Rory to putt well at the PGA Championship. He hasn’t putted particularly well this year, from 20 to 25 feet.
“And again, The Masters, he made some, but he’s made absolutely zero, not one putt this year on the PGA Tour. Not one putt outside of The Masters from 20 to 25 feet, and he’s only made one over 25 feet. So a dearth of success on the greens in those areas where most of your birdie shots are going to end up.“
Rory McIlroy’s woeful putting stats in 2026
McIlroy ranks 105th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting this season.
He is ranked 114th in putts per round and 52nd in putts per greens in regulation.
The Northern Irishman is ranked well down in 129th position in one-putt percentage.
The longest putt he has holed all season long is 30 feet, and that leaves him ranked in 195th position on the PGA Tour this year.
Rory McIlroy clearly needs to tidy up his putting if he is to contend at the PGA Championship this week, let alone win.
