"Rough is pretty penal": Rory McIlroy left perplexed with the course after missed cut at the RBC Canadian Open

Rory McIlroy was left confused with the course after missing the cut line at the RBC Canadian Open. His total score was 9-over at the PGA Tour event, while the projected cutline was set at 3-under after two rounds.

Following the round, McIlroy joined a press conference and shared his experience of playing at the course. He said:

“Little bit of room off the tee. Fairways are quite generous but if you miss them the rough is pretty penal. Then the greens are you know, they're tricky, undulating and really gotta hit it into the right section.”

Rory McIlroy also shared how his performance on day two was concerning and that it didn't go in the right direction. He said, via ASAP Sports:

“Of course it concerns me. You don't want to shoot high scores like the one I did today. Still I felt like I came here obviously with a new driver thinking that that sort of was going to be good and solve some of the problems off the tee, but it didn't.

"Obviously going to Oakmont next week, what you need to do more than anything else there is hit fairways. Still sort of searching for the sort of missing piece off the tee. Obviously for me, when I get that part of the game clicking, then everything falls into place for me. Right now that isn't. Yeah, that's a concern going into next week.”

Rory McIlroy will next play at the U.S. Open, which will take place at the Oakmont Country Club, USA, from June 12 to 15.

How did Rory McIlroy perform in his last three appearances at the RBC Canadian Open?

Rory McIlroy failed to make it through the cutline at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. He scored 9-over in the event and shot 71 in the first round with two birdies on the front nine and one on the last hole. In the second round, he fired 78 with two birdies on the last nine.

McIlroy also played the 2024 RBC Canadian Open and tied for fourth place with a final score of 13-under. The Northern Irishman shot 66 in the first round with four birdies, followed by 72 in the second round with one birdie. The third and fourth rounds saw 65 and 64 after carding five birdies along with an eagle and six birdies, respectively.

In 2023, the golfer tied in ninth place with Brandon Wu after scoring 12-under. He shot 71 in the first round with two birdies on the front nine and three on the back nine. In the next round, he made 67 with one birdie on the front nine and four on the back nine. He fired 66 and 72 with six and two birdies, respectively.