Rain arrives right on time for Rory

Rory McIlroy may have been pleased to see the dark clouds gather over Oak Hill last night, just as a bright start to his PGA Championship defence was getting a little gloomy in upstate New York.

Play had been suspended due to inclement weather late in the afternoon here (9:25pm Irish time), just as McIlroy had carded back-to-back bogeys at the par-four 10th and par-three 11th holes of the famed Donald Ross-designed East Course. That sent the Holywood star back to one under par for his round as the horn sounded to bring the players off the course, with former US Open champion Jim Furyk sitting pretty on the clubhouse lead following an opening 65, Masters champion Adam Scott tying him for the lead at five under par after 10 holes.

Having spent the year to this point struggling with his swing, and after disappointing returns in all three Majors thus far, McIlroy will have been delighted with his fast start to the final Major of the season, which he won by a record-breaking eight shots 12 months ago at Kiawah Island.