Rory McIlroy told putting coach needs 'charging with war crimes'

Rory McIlroy says he'll likely rue the six-hole stretch where he wasn't able to capitalise on a multitude of birdie chances during the third round of the 2024 PGA Championship. 

McIlroy, 35, needed a low one at Valhalla on Saturday afternoon to get back into contention at the second men's major of the year. 

He started as poorly as you could imagine, making a bogey right out of the gate. 

But then signs of life appeared when he made amends from that early mistake, birdieing the par-3 fourth by jarring a putt from 36 feet. 

The Northern Irishman then reeled off four birdies in a row from the seventh to vault up the leaderboard on a day of ridiculously low scoring. 

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[I] really got it going around the turn there to get to four-under," McIlroy told reporters. 

"And then I kept hitting good shots and had good looks at 11, 12 and 13, 15. 

"Then I made two bogeys with a missed putt on 14, [I had] a three-putt."

He added: "There was a six-hole stretch there, seven-hole stretch where just sort of the putter cooled on me. 

"Depending on what happens tomorrow, that's sort of the -- if I look back on the tournament, I may rue that six-hole stretch where I wasn't able to hole any putts."

By the time McIlroy tapped in for a closing birdie he was six strokes adrift of the leader Xander Schauffele. 

That lead was likely to increase as the American still had holes to play. 

Once again, though, it appears as though McIlroy's wait for that elusive major win will continue. 

It has been 10 years since he claimed victory in one of the big four. 

Last week McIlroy claimed he believed the stars were aligning nicely. 

His performance on Saturday afternoon was a big talking point for golf fans online. 

They made no secret of pointing out how frustrating it was watching his performance with the flatstick. 

"McIlroy's putting coach needs charging with war crimes," one X user blasted. 

Another added: "Might as well putt with a f---ing wedge at this point."

This user pointed out: "Every putt he hits misses right, make an adjustment!"

Perhaps they had a point as McIlroy ranked 71st in the putting department. 

Despite the criticism, McIlroy couldn't actually ask for a better putting coach in Brad Faxon. 

He has previously worked with the renowned Phil Kenyon, who has overseen Scottie Scheffler's transformation on the greens. 

Even though McIlroy likely won't win the PGA Championship, his Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry may do. 

Lowry equalled the lowest ever tournament round in major championship history with a scintillating nine-under 62. 

McIlroy claimed he has another low round in him on Sunday. 

"I need the putter to sort of heat up again, and with everything else it's doing, there's certainly another low one in me."

More GolfMagic articles from the 2024 US PGA Championship:

• US PGA Championship 2024: LIV Golf leaderboard
• Tiger Woods gives Scottie Scheffler arrest verdict
• Jon Rahm sums up indifferent PGA Championship
• Cop to Scottie Scheffler: "So, you want the full experience?"

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