Rory McIlroy made it clear that, despite catapulting into a share of the early lead at the BMW Championship, he still believes there is a substantial amount of work left on his game. The Northern Irish star, who has struggled to find consistency in recent weeks, used his opening round to send a signal that he is back on track, yet he remains cautious about declaring the job finished. Just a month ago, McIlroy missed the cut at The Open Championship and then posted a disappointing 66th‑of‑68 finish at the FedEx St.
Jude Championship. After that tournament he admitted he felt "far away" from where he needs to be as the PGA Tour season rolls on.
Those comments underscored a period of self‑assessment for the world No. 2, who has been working closely with his longtime swing coach Michael Bannon at the family home in Florida. The pair flew to Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis for the second FedExCup Playoff event with a clear agenda: tighten the fundamentals, regain confidence, and start posting scores that reflect McIlroy’s true talent.
The plan seemed to bear fruit on Thursday. McIlroy opened with a blistering 64, a round punctuated by six birdies and a series of aggressive, yet controlled, shots.
He began the day by sinking a 15‑foot birdie putt on the fourth hole, a moment that set the tone for the rest of his round. A mis‑hit tee shot on the par‑five eighth could have derailed his momentum, but he recovered brilliantly, turning the hole into a birdie opportunity.
The momentum continued on the par‑three 13th, where he rolled his ball in from eight feet for another birdie, ending a string of pars that had threatened to stall his progress. McIlroy’s performance crescendoed on the back‑nine.
He tapped in a five‑foot putt on the 15th and then delivered a dramatic birdie‑birdie finish on the final two holes, propelling him to six under par. That score placed him in a four‑way tie for the clubhouse lead alongside an all‑American group consisting of Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, JJ Spaun, and Chris Gotterup. When asked about his round, McIlroy told the press, "I felt like I'm at least back on the right path of what I'm doing with my game and with my swing. It's certainly 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 highlighted a balanced perspective: confidence in the direction of his game, tempered by the knowledge that consistency across a full season demands relentless refinement.
The leaderboard at Bellerive quickly became a tableau of veteran experience and emerging talent. Woodland, who set the early benchmark despite a bogey on his final hole, had earlier produced a spectacular hole‑out eagle on the 11th. Spaun, after a late‑round stumble that dropped him back to six under, remained in contention.
Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, rallied dramatically with five birdies in his last six holes to join the leaders. Gotterup briefly threatened to break away after a three‑birdie surge beginning at the 13th, but he was forced to settle for par on the 18th after holing a 20‑footer to preserve his six‑under standing. Further down the field, Matt Fitzpatrick posted a solid 65, leaving him just one shot off the lead.
Ludvig Åberg and Alex Fitzpatrick each carded 66s, while Bob MacIntyre, who withdrew from the previous event, rebounded with a two‑under 68. Former major champions Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood found themselves five strokes back, illustrating the depth of competition at this stage of the FedExCup Playoffs. In stark contrast, pre‑tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler endured a nightmare start. After dominating the previous week with an eight‑stroke victory, Scheffler stumbled out of the gates, recording four bogeys in his first seven holes and ultimately posting a two‑over 72.
The poor round left him tied for 44th out of a 50‑player field, a humbling result that serves as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in professional golf. The BMW Championship continues to attract global attention, with live coverage slated to begin on Thursday at 3 p.m.
on Sky Sports+ and at 5:30 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf. For viewers without a Sky subscription, the tournament can be streamed via NOW with no‑contract options, ensuring fans can follow every swing, birdie, and dramatic turn as the FedExCup Playoffs intensify.
Overall, McIlroy’s resurgence at Bellerive signals a potential turning point in his season. While his round was undeniably impressive, his own acknowledgment of the work still required underscores a mature approach to the sport. As the playoffs progress, the battle for the FedExCup points will likely see further swings in momentum, with players like Scheffler looking to rebound, and others such as McIlroy aiming to convert early promise into sustained success.
The narrative unfolding at the BMW Championship promises to be a compelling chapter in this year’s PGA Tour story.