Rory McIlroy made it clear that, despite catapulting into a share of the early lead at the BMW Championship, he still believes his game has considerable room for improvement. The Northern Irish star, who finished a disappointing 66th out of the 68 competitors who completed last week’s FedEx St.
Jude Championship, admitted that he feels "far away" from where he needs to be as the PGA Tour season progresses. The world No. 2 has been working closely with his longtime mentor, Michael Bannon, at his home base in Florida. Arriving at Bellerive Country Club for the second FedExCup Playoff event, McIlroy produced a spectacular opening round of 64, punctuated by six birdies that showcased both his precision and his willingness to attack the pins.
His round began with a 15‑foot birdie putt on the fourth hole, a moment that set the tone for the rest of his day. After a mis‑hit tee shot on the par‑five eighth, he recovered brilliantly, turning the mistake into an opportunity and ultimately making a birdie. He continued his momentum on the par‑three 13th, sinking an eight‑foot putt to break a string of pars and keep his scorecard moving lower. On the 15th hole, McIlroy demonstrated his clutch putting ability by converting a five‑foot putt, and he capped the round with a birdie‑birdie finish that brought him to six under par.
That score placed him in a tie for the clubhouse lead alongside an American quartet consisting of Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, JJ Spaun and Chris Gotterup. When asked about his performance, McIlroy told the media, "I feel like I’m at least back on the right path with my game and my swing. It’s definitely a work in progress.
Days like this are encouraging, obviously, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. For the first round, with what I’m trying to do, it went as well as it could have today." His remarks underscored a realistic self‑assessment; even with a stellar round, he knows that consistency across the season will be the true test.
The leaderboard at Bellerive quickly evolved as other contenders made moves. Gary Woodland posted an initial target despite a bogey on his final hole, having earlier recorded an eagle on the 11th.
JJ Spaun slipped back to six under after a late‑round bogey, while Wyndham Clark surged with five birdies in his last six holes to join the leaders. Chris Gotterup threatened to take the solo lead after a three‑birdie stretch beginning at the 13th, but a dramatic 20‑foot putt to save par on the final hole kept him level at six under. Matt Fitzpatrick, another major champion, posted a respectable 65 and sat just one shot behind the leaders. Ludvig Åberg and Alex Fitzpatrick each recorded opening‑round 66s, demonstrating the depth of the field.
Bob MacIntyre, who had withdrawn from the previous event, rebounded with a two‑under 68, while seasoned veterans Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood found themselves five strokes off the lead. Meanwhile, pre‑tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler, who dominated the FedEx St.
Jude Championship with an eight‑shot victory, endured a stark contrast at Bellerive. A disastrous start saw him drop four bogeys in his first seven holes, culminating in a two‑over 72 that left him tied for 44th out of the 50‑man field. The early setbacks highlighted the unpredictable nature of golf, where even the most dominant players can encounter sudden slumps. The BMW Championship continues to attract global attention, with live coverage beginning Thursday at 3 p.m.
on Sky Sports+ and 5:30 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf. For viewers without a Sky subscription, the tournament can be streamed via NOW with a no‑contract deal, ensuring fans worldwide can follow the drama as it unfolds.
Overall, McIlroy’s early surge offers a glimpse of his potential resurgence, but his own words remind us that a single round does not define a season. The upcoming days will test his ability to translate this promising start into sustained performance, while the rest of the field, including the likes of Scheffler, Woodland, and Clark, will be looking to either maintain their momentum or recover from early missteps.
The narrative of the BMW Championship is still being written, and every shot from here on out will shape the final story of this FedExCup playoff event.