Rory McIlroy made it clear that, despite sprinting into a share of the early lead at the BMW Championship, he believes there is still a substantial amount of work to be done on his game. The Northern Irish star, who finished a disappointing 66th out of the 68 players who completed last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, admitted that his performance was far from where he wants to be as the PGA Tour season progresses. He described himself as "far away" from his target level and emphasized that the upcoming weeks will require a focused effort to get back on track.
The world No. 2, who has been working closely with longtime coach Michael Bannon back in his Florida home base, arrived at Bellerive Country Club for the second FedExCup Playoff event with a clear agenda: to re‑establish the fundamentals of his swing and regain confidence. That plan seemed to pay off immediately, as McIlroy launched a blistering opening round of 64, punctuated by six birdies that showcased both his precision and his willingness to attack the course.
One of the most memorable moments came on the fourth hole, where McIlroy holed a 15‑foot birdie putt after a wayward tee shot left him in a tricky position. He then turned his attention to the par‑five eighth, capitalising on a solid drive to secure another birdie.
The momentum continued on the par‑three 13th, where he rolled in an eight‑foot putt to break a string of pars and keep his scorecard moving lower. On the 15th, the Masters champion converted a five‑foot putt for birdie, and he capped the round with a back‑to‑back birdie finish that brought his total to six under par.
This surge lifted him into a tie for the clubhouse lead alongside an American quartet consisting of Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, JJ Spaun and Chris Gotterup. When speaking to the media after his round, McIlroy said, "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 comments underscored a realistic outlook: while the early success was a positive sign, he remains aware that consistency over the long haul is essential for any championship aspirations.
The leaderboard after the first round reflected a tightly contested battle. Gary Woodland set the early benchmark despite finishing his round with a bogey, having previously recorded an eagle on the 11th hole.
JJ Spaun slipped back to six under after a late bogey, while Wyndham Clark rallied with five birdies in his final six holes to join the leaders. Chris Gotterup briefly threatened to pull ahead after a three‑birdie burst beginning at the 13th, but he was forced to sink a 20‑footer for par on the final hole, keeping him tied at six under. Matt Fitzpatrick posted a solid 65, placing him just one shot behind the leaders.
Other notable performances included Ludvig Åberg and Alex Fitzpatrick, both carding 66s, and Bob MacIntyre, who rebounded from a withdrawal the previous week with a two‑under 68. Veteran players Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood found themselves five strokes off the lead, illustrating the depth of talent in the field. In stark contrast, pre‑tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler endured a nightmare start to his round. After winning by eight shots in the previous event, Scheffler stumbled early, making four bogeys in his first seven holes.
He ultimately posted a two‑over 72, which left him tied for 44th out of the 50‑man field—a dramatic swing from his dominant form just days earlier. The sudden drop highlighted the unpredictable nature of golf, where even the most consistent players can face sudden setbacks. The BMW Championship continues to attract significant viewership, with live coverage slated to begin on Thursday at 3 p.m. on Sky Sports+ and 5:30 p.m.
on Sky Sports Golf. For fans without a Sky subscription, the tournament can be streamed via NOW with no‑contract options, ensuring broad accessibility. Looking ahead, McIlroy’s early surge positions him as a serious contender, but his own remarks suggest he will be cautious, focusing on the incremental improvements needed to sustain his performance over the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, Scheffler will need to regroup quickly, addressing the issues that led to his early-round struggles if he hopes to return to the top of the leaderboard. The tournament’s evolving leaderboard, combined with the contrasting fortunes of its biggest names, promises an exciting continuation of the FedExCup Playoffs. Golf enthusiasts can expect further drama, strategic adjustments, and perhaps another shift in momentum as the field navigates the challenging layout of Bellerive Country Club.
As the competition progresses, analysts will be watching closely to see whether McIlroy can convert his promising start into a tournament win, and whether Scheffler can recover his form and re‑establish himself as the player to beat. The stakes are high, the courses are demanding, and the players are fully aware that every shot could be the difference between a victory and a missed opportunity. The next rounds will undoubtedly provide a compelling narrative for fans worldwide.