So Rory McIlroy decided to hit into a tree root on the third hole, putting his seven iron, and right arm into respective states of disrepair. He got to replace his seven iron, but was forced to keep using his right wrist and arm if he wanted to continue. After playing the next several holes in obvious pain, and getting some onsite physical therapy and a tape job; he gutted it out, playing the remaining fifteen holes by letting go with his right hand on almost every full swing, but finishing at even par. In doing so, he overshadowed a record tying 63 by the first round leader, Steve Stricker, as well as the implosion of Tiger Woods, who turned a fast start -3 after 5 holes, into a first round +7 finish. Either Wood's implosion, or Stricker's explosion would have likely dominated the first round coverage, were it not for the bad break, and the choice that faced Rory as to whether to Keep Battlin'. Having overcome adversity to finish the first round, McIlroy will have to make a similar choice on day two, when he wakes up to assess the damage done, and the pain prognosis for continuing. No matter what happens, however, he has already illustrated that an exhibition of the inspiring will to Keep Battlin' when bad things happen, is a hard thing to ignore, which is why on the first day of the PGA Championship, Rory's the Story.
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