BMW PGA Championship Leaders
Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren share the early lead at Wentworth
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Key Points
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McIlroy had shot a 12-under 60 in Wednesday’s pro-am, including nine birdies and an eagle over a 10-hole stretch, but dismissed its significance: “Ultimately that 60 didn’t matter. It’s about doing it on the day.”
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Rai said he felt unusually nervous about playing alongside McIlroy and Ryan Fox, but settled quickly. He also recalled attending the Wentworth event as a junior and said he has played particularly well there over the past three or four years.
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McIlroy benefited from an unusual break on the 14th: after his tee shot came to rest against out-of-bounds fencing, a narrow strip of grass allowed him a free drop rather than a penalty stroke, and he saved par.
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McIlroy said technical changes to his swing could take months, acknowledging that “it’s going to take a long time to get back to where I really want it to be” after developing swing issues since retaining the Masters title in April.
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Shane Lowry arrived fresh from winning the Irish Open at Doonbeg the previous weekend but opened the BMW PGA Championship with a one-under-par 71.
Aaron Rai and Sweden's Joakim Lagergren share the first-round lead at the BMW PGA Championship after both shot six-under-par 66s at Wentworth. The Sports Animal reported that Rai made seven birdies and one bogey, while Lagergren's round featured an eagle. Rory McIlroy surged to five under through 10 holes but stumbled down the stretch, finishing with three bogeys over his final seven holes for a three-under 69 — three shots behind the leaders.
McIlroy shot a spectacular 12-under 60 in Wednesday's pro-am but dismissed its relevance. "Ultimately that 60 didn't matter," he said. "It's about doing it on the day." The Northern Irishman is chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, while Rai seeks to add the Rolex Series event to his major-winning season.
Rai Overcomes Nerves Playing Alongside McIlroy
Aaron Rai felt unusually nervous about playing alongside McIlroy and Ryan Fox in the same group. Despite early jitters, he settled in quickly and posted a flawless six-under 66. Newsy Today noted that Rai outshined McIlroy by three strokes on the opening day. The 29-year-old recalled attending Wentworth as a junior and said he has played particularly well there over the past three or four years.
McIlroy Struggles With Swing Changes After April Win
McIlroy admitted that technical changes to his swing could take months to produce results. "It's going to take a long time to get back to where I really want it to be," he said, Last Word On Golf reported. The four-time major winner has battled swing issues since retaining the Masters title in April and is working to replace ingrained habits.
McIlroy Gets Fortunate Break on the 14th Hole
McIlroy benefited from an unusual break during his round. After his tee shot came to rest against out-of-bounds fencing on the 14th, a narrow strip of grass allowed him a free drop rather than a penalty stroke. He saved par and moved forward.
Fox and Scott Chase Leaders; Lowry Struggles
Ryan Fox finished at four under. Fox Sports Australia reported that Adam Scott, Ryan Gerard, Ludvig Åberg and Nacho Elvira sit one shot off the lead, while Patrick Reed, Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre are among those at four under. Shane Lowry, fresh from winning the Irish Open at Doonbeg the previous weekend, opened with a one-under 71.
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