Rory McIlroy is on the move at the PGA Championship, and golf fans are loving every moment of it. After a frustrating opening round that left him fuming, the 37-year-old Northern Irishman came out firing on Friday with two early birdies, signaling the start of his charge back up the leaderboard.

McIlroy's first-round 74—a four-over par effort that included four straight bogeys to close—had him visibly angry and sitting eight shots behind clubhouse leader Alex Smalley. But true to form, the four-time major champion showed his resilience early in round two. Starting his day from the rough off the first tee, McIlroy scrambled for a gutsy par before finding his rhythm with birdies at the second and fourth holes. His primary goal? Simply making the cut, which sat at three-over par.

The course at Aronimink Golf Club has proven far tougher than many anticipated, pushing back against predictions that it would roll over for the world's best. McIlroy's Ryder Cup teammates felt the sting too—Shane Lowry carded a 76, while Tommy Fleetwood posted a 75 in the morning wave. Even world number one Scottie Scheffler, who battled to a one-over 71 to stay within two of the lead, called the pin placements the "hardest I've seen on tour."

But there's hope for McIlroy. Chris Gotterup's sparkling 65 proved that low scores are achievable, and the Northern Irishman knows a hot streak can change everything. Playing alongside fellow major champions Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth, McIlroy is chasing back-to-back major wins after his dramatic Masters defense last month.

Meanwhile, South African Aldrich Potgieter seized control at the top, moving to five-under par after sharing the first-round lead with six others. And England's Justin Rose showed grit, struggling to a three-over round but saving his weekend hopes with a stunning chip-in eagle from the rough on his final hole—a reminder that in golf, anything can happen.