- Ohtani eyes MLB history after surpassing 50 stolen bases
- Barca downed by Monaco as Arsenal held in Champions League stalemate
- Head's 'good night at office' after century seals win over England
- Dubois seeks legitimacy with Joshua scalp
- Rate cut could lift consumer spirits before US elections
- Last-gasp Gimenez strike sends Atletico past Leipzig
- Barca stumble at Monaco after early red card
- Raya heroics save Arsenal in Champions League opener at Atalanta
- Cathay Airbus engine fire linked to cleaning: EU regulator
- Guardians beat Twins to secure MLB playoff berth
- Jihadist attack in Mali capital killed more than 70: security sources
- Alonso hails 'efficient' Leverkusen after Feyenoord rout
- Head's hundred seals Australia win over England in 1st ODI
- Ex-Man United striker Anthony Martial joins AEK Athens
- NFL unbeatens meet as Texans visit Vikings, Steelers host Chargers
- Head's hundred seals Australia win over England in 1st ODI after Labuschagne strikes
- Dream debut for Wirtz as Leverkusen thump dire Feyenoord
- Myanmar flood death toll climbs to 293: state media
- Israel army says West Bank air strike kills 4 militants
- LIV golfers get green light for US Ryder Cup team, PGA Championship
- US accuses social media giants of 'vast surveillance'
- Ten Hag to bed Hojlund, Mount in carefully when they return for Man Utd
- Breaking bad as McIlroy endures 'weird' day
- EU chief announces $11 bn for nations hit by 'heartbreaking' floods
- Spanish PM, Palestinian leader urge Mideast de-escalation
- New study reinforces theory Covid emerged at Chinese market
- World Bank boosts climate financing by 10 percent
- Bagnaia eyeing summit on home ground in 100th MotoGP
- 'Something was wrong', defendant in French mass rape tells court
- Hezbollah chief admits 'unprecedented' blow in device blasts
- Sales of US existing homes slip slightly in August
- Fear, panic haunt Lebanese after devices explode
- Labuschagne sparks Australia fightback in England ODI opener
- S.Africa's HIV research power couple says fight goes on
- Why is Israel focusing on border with Lebanon?
- Mpox vaccines administered in Rwanda, first in Africa
- US Fed rate cut is 'very positive sign' for economy: Yellen
- Unknown Mozart string trio discovered in Germany
- 'Are we five-year-olds?' F1 drivers won't mind their language
- Brazil judge orders X to reimpose block or face hefty fine
- Munich to rename stadium street after Beckenbauer
- Champions Italy to face Argentina in Davis Cup Final 8
- The winding, fitful path to weight loss drug Ozempic
- Italians defeat American Magic to reach Louis Vuitton Cup final
- Norris has 'nothing to lose' as he hunts Verstappen in Singapore
- Kyiv 'outraged' at Swiss showing of Russian war film
- French city renames Abbe Pierre square after abuse claims
- Footballer charged after huge cannabis seizure at UK airport
- Vatican recognises Medjugorje shrine, but not Virgin's messages
- Israel bombs Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon after wave of deadly blasts
Breaking bad as McIlroy endures 'weird' day
Rory McIlroy admitted he had endured a "weird" opening day at the European Tour's PGA Championship on Thursday which saw him break a club mid-shot and have to putt left-handed.
The 2014 champion at the Wentworth venue eventually signed for a five-under par 72, two strokes behind clubhouse leader Matthew Baldwin.
"I don't think it's ever happened to me before," McIlroy said of the incident on the par-five 12th, when his approach finished six feet from the hole despite the clubhead flying off at impact.
"I hit nine iron on the ninth hole and it looked as if the ferrule (fastening) 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. 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."
The Northern Irishman also had to putt left-handed at the eighth after his ball landed on the edge of a pond.
"Hit a left-handed putt and did a decent job. At least I got the speed pretty much correct. I didn't get the line right, but knocked that one in, made par," he said.
Baldwin, who won his first European Tour title in South Africa last year, admitted he often struggles with nerves but was delighted with the way he remained focused in front of the large crowds.
"That's a rarity for me to be fair, my thoughts are usually running wild," the 38-year-old said.
Baldwin has a one-shot lead over British Masters winner Niklas Norgaard and Belgium's Thomas Detry, while 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."
L.Mason--AMWN