Rory McIlroy found himself heading back to the practice range after his performance slipped during the second round of the BMW Championship held at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.
The defending Masters champion had opened the tournament with an impressive six‑under‑par 66, which placed him in a tie for the lead after round one. However, on Friday he was only able to add a single stroke to his total, carding a 69 that left him trailing the leaders. When asked by the Golf Channel about the conditions, McIlroy noted that the weather was largely comparable to the previous day, but with a shift in wind direction that still allowed for low scores.
"The wind was coming out of a different direction, but still very scorable. The greens are soft, maybe the ball's got a little bit more run out on the fairways, but you'll still see guys shooting pretty good scores today," he explained. He admitted that his ball‑striking was not as crisp as it had been on Thursday, prompting him to schedule an afternoon session at the range to fine‑tune his swing. "I didn't quite hit it as good as I did yesterday, so probably an afternoon on the range for me," he said.
Despite the setback, McIlroy expressed satisfaction with his resilience. He highlighted a series of solid par putts on the back nine and emphasized that the only bogey he recorded came from a mis‑hit on the par‑five eighth hole. "I'm proud of how I just hung in there.
A lot of good par putts on the back nine, especially. The only bogey I had was with a mistake on the par‑five eighth hole, but I made some really good par saves coming in and that sort of kept me in it," he reflected.
McIlroy also took a moment to praise the atmosphere created by the fans at Bellerive. The six‑time major winner recalled his first visit to the venue in 2018 for the PGA Championship, noting the large crowds and vibrant energy.
"They're amazing, that's one of the biggest things I remember from being here in 2018 for the PGA was just how many people showed up and what a great atmosphere it was to play in," he said. He added that the crowd on Friday morning, when he teed off at 9:45 a.m., was equally impressive and that he was looking forward to more enthusiastic support over the weekend. The leaderboard continued to shift as other competitors made their moves.
Two‑time U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, the only player in the field who had not yet recorded a bogey, surged ahead with a total of 12 under par after posting consecutive rounds of 64. Gary Woodland trailed him by a single stroke, while fellow American JJ Spaun appeared poised to take control of the second round after reaching 11 under at the turn. Spaun, however, encountered three bogeys on the back nine, which stalled his momentum.
He finished the round with two birdies, including a clutch birdie on the final hole, leaving him as the clubhouse leader among early starters at 10 under par. World No.
1 Scottie Scheffler, who had struggled with a 72 in the opening round and was two over par after a bogey on the first hole of round two, managed to rebound after the turn. He recorded five birdies on the back nine, improving his standing to three under par and moving into a tie for 25th place, still within striking distance of the leaders. The tournament's schedule remains packed, with live coverage of the BMW Championship set to continue on Saturday afternoon.
Broadcasts will be available at 4:00 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf and at 8:30 p.m. on Sky Sports Main Event. For viewers without a Sky subscription, streaming options are offered through NOW with no contract required.
Beyond the competition itself, the event highlights the broader appeal of golf in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where golfers can book rounds at any of the 1,700 courses across the region. While searching for a course by entering a city or postal code, users may occasionally encounter a "No results found" message, prompting them to refine their search criteria. In summary, McIlroy's decision to return to the range underscores his commitment to fine‑tuning his game when conditions shift.
His acknowledgment of the supportive crowd, combined with the strong performances of players like Wyndham Clark, Gary Woodland, and JJ Spaun, sets the stage for an exciting weekend of golf at the BMW Championship. The tournament continues to draw significant viewership, with multiple streaming and broadcast options ensuring fans can follow every shot as the competition unfolds.