Rory McIlroy accused of 'no class' as PGA Championship comments spark furious backlash

Rory McIlroy has been accused of showing "no class" after his blunt verdict on a disappointing opening round at the PGA Championship triggered a fierce reaction on social media.

The Masters champion endured a frustrating start at Aronimink Golf Club, where he appeared well placed at level par with four holes to play.

But the world No 2 then suffered a dramatic collapse, carding four consecutive bogeys to sign for a four-over-par 74 and leave himself seven shots adrift of the early leaders.

McIlroy's difficult day came after a minor injury scare earlier in the week.

The 37-year-old had been troubled by a blister underneath the nail on his right little toe and was forced to cut short a practice round on Tuesday after just three holes.

He later revealed that he removed the toenail himself and switched to a wider pair of shoes, along with extra padding, to ease the discomfort.

Despite concerns over his fitness, McIlroy insisted before the tournament that the problem would not prevent him from competing.

His challenge, however, quickly ran into trouble once the opening round began.

Aronimink proved to be a stern examination, with thick rough and narrow fairways punishing any wayward drives.

McIlroy's struggles off the tee ultimately proved costly.

When asked afterwards how he would sum up his round, the six-time major winner offered a brutally honest one-word response: "S**t."

Pressed to explain further, McIlroy said: "I started missing fairways.

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"I'm just not driving the ball well enough. It has been a problem all year for the most part.

"I miss it right, and then I want to try to correct it, and then I'll overdo it and miss it left.

"So that's pretty frustrating, especially when I pride myself on driving the ball well."

Video of the exchange quickly spread online and prompted a divided reaction from golf fans.

One social media user wrote: "No class from Rory McIlroy. Young fans are watching."

Another posted: "He looked very confident before the tournament and has been brought back down to earth."

A third added: "He's an easy guy to root against."

Others, however, defended McIlroy and praised his candour.

"I appreciate Rory's honesty," one supporter wrote.

Another said: "He gave a thoughtful explanation after the initial comment."

McIlroy entered the week among the favourites after winning a second Masters title earlier this year and completing the career Grand Slam.

He is seeking a third PGA Championship crown, having previously lifted the Wanamaker Trophy in 2012 and 2014.

Seven players, including Scottie Scheffler, share the lead after the opening round on three under par.

McIlroy will, however, need a significant improvement in the second round if he is to keep his hopes of another major title alive.