Rory McIlroy Struggles at Canadian Open, Misses Cut By 12 Shots

CALEDON, Ontario — Rory McIlroy, the reigning Masters champion, faced a disappointing exit from the RBC Canadian Open on Friday, finishing with an 8-over 78. This score marks his second-highest to par in any PGA Tour round of his career.

McIlroy struggled significantly on the fifth hole, recording a quadruple-bogey 8. His round also included a double bogey on No. 11 and four additional bogeys against just two birdies. ‘Of course it concerns me,’ McIlroy said. ‘You don’t want to shoot high scores like the one I did today.’ His performance left him trailing leader Cameron Champ by 21 strokes.

McIlroy, who won the 2025 Masters, had entered the tournament seeking to improve his driving game after a recent driver controversy. After missing the cut by 12 shots, he expressed familiarity with his difficulties. ‘I felt like I came here with a new driver thinking that would solve some of the problems off the tee, but it didn’t,’ he added.

Champ, who opened with a stunning 62, carded a 68 in his second round. He currently holds a 12-under total, having completed the first two rounds without a bogey. In contrast, McIlroy’s performance has raised concerns about his readiness for the upcoming U.S. Open at Oakmont, known for its challenging course.

‘Going to Oakmont next week, what you need to do more than anything else is hit fairways,’ McIlroy stated. He has now missed the cut for the first time since July at the Open Championship.

McIlroy’s struggle to adapt to his new equipment has been evident, as he has hit only 42% of fairways over the two rounds. ‘If I’m going to miss fairways, I’d rather have the ball speed and miss the fairway than not,’ he remarked. He plans to test several new drivers over the weekend.

While he managed two late birdies during his second round, it was not enough to course-correct a dismal overall performance. McIlroy will now have to reflect and address his game issues before tackling the upcoming U.S. Open.