Rory McIlroy made it clear that, despite catapulting himself into a share of the early lead at the BMW Championship, there remains a considerable amount of refinement required in his overall game. The Northern Irish star, who finished a disappointing 66th out of the 68 competitors who completed the FedEx St.
Jude Championship just a week earlier, admitted that he is still far from the performance level he expects of himself as the PGA Tour season progresses. McIlroy’s recent form has been a mixed bag. At The Open Championship last month, he failed to mount a serious challenge, and his showing at the FedEx St.
Jude event was equally underwhelming. After a round that left him well behind the leaders, he described his play as "far away" from where he needs to be heading into the remainder of the season. Nevertheless, the world No. 2 entered the second FedExCup Playoff event at Bellerive Country Club with a renewed sense of purpose, having spent weeks in Florida fine‑tuning his swing under the guidance of longtime coach Michael Bannon.
The opening round at Bellerive proved to be a turning point. McIlroy carded a spectacular 64, punctuated by six birdies that showcased both his ball‑striking prowess and his improved short‑game touch. He began the day by sinking a 15‑foot birdie putt on the fourth hole, a shot that set the tone for the rest of his round. A wayward tee shot on the par‑five eighth could have derailed his momentum, but McIlroy recovered brilliantly, turning the mishap into a birdie opportunity.
He then broke a string of pars on the par‑three 13th by holing an eight‑foot putt, further solidifying his position near the top of the leaderboard. Continuing his surge, the Masters champion converted a five‑foot putt on the 15th and closed the round with a birdie‑birdie finish, ultimately finishing at six under par.
This performance placed him in a four‑way tie for the clubhouse lead alongside American players Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, JJ Spaun, and Chris Gotterup. In post‑round interviews, McIlroy expressed cautious optimism. "I felt like I'm at least back on the right path of what I'm doing with my game and with my swing," he told the media.
"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." The leaderboard after the first round was tightly packed.
Woodland, despite finishing his 64 with a bogey, had set the early benchmark after an eagle on the 11th hole. Spaun also slipped back to six under after a late bogey, while Clark rallied impressively, recording five birdies in his final six holes to join the leaders.
Gotterup made a bold move with a three‑birdie burst beginning at the 13th, but a dramatic 20‑foot putt saved par on the final hole, keeping him level at six under. Matt Fitzpatrick sat just one shot behind after posting a solid 65. Further down the field, Ludvig Åberg and Alex Fitzpatrick each posted 66s, while Bob MacIntyre, who had withdrawn from the previous tournament, rebounded with a two‑under 68.
Veteran competitors Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood found themselves five strokes off the lead, indicating that the competition remains wide open as the tournament moves forward. In stark contrast to McIlroy’s bright start, pre‑tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler endured a nightmarish opening round.
After dominating the FedExSt. Jude Championship with an eight‑stroke victory, Scheffler stumbled out of the gates at Bellerive, recording four bogeys in his first seven holes and ultimately carding a two‑over 72.
This put him tied for 44th out of the 50‑man field, a full eight strokes behind the leaders and a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in professional golf. Scheffler’s struggles underscore the unpredictable nature of the FedExCup Playoffs, where even the most dominant players can face sudden setbacks. Analysts suggest that his early‑round woes may be attributed to a combination of factors, including a tentative approach off the tee, mis‑reads on the greens, and perhaps lingering fatigue from his recent victory.
Regardless, the American will need to rebound quickly if he hopes to stay in contention for the season‑ending championship. The BMW Championship will continue 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, alternative streaming options are available through NOW, offering contract‑free access to the tournament.
As the field narrows and the pressure intensifies, golf fans can expect a thrilling continuation of the playoff battle, with McIlroy’s resurgence and Scheffler’s quest for redemption serving as two of the most compelling storylines. Overall, the first round has set the stage for an exciting showdown. McIlroy’s six‑under performance demonstrates that he is capable of competing at the highest level when his swing feels right, while Scheffler’s early missteps highlight the fine margins that separate victory from disappointment on the PGA Tour. The coming days will reveal whether McIlroy can sustain his momentum and climb back into the top‑world ranking, and whether Scheffler can regroup and demonstrate the resilience that has defined his recent rise to the top of the game.