Rory McIlroy made it clear that, despite catapulting into a share of the early lead at the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship, he still believes there is a great deal 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, used the new tournament as a chance to signal that he is back on a constructive trajectory, even though he acknowledges that his work is far from finished. McIlroy’s performance at The Open in July was underwhelming, and his showing at the FedEx St. Jude Championship was equally lackluster.
After a round that left him well outside the contention zone, he told the media that he felt "far away" from the level he needs to sustain for the remainder of the PGA Tour season. Determined to turn the tide, he spent time with his longtime mentor, Michael Bannon, at his home base in Florida before traveling to Bellerive Country Club for the second FedExCup Playoff event. The preparation paid off immediately. On Thursday, McIlroy opened with a spectacular 64, punctuated by six birdies that showcased both his power and precision.
He began the round by sinking a 15‑foot birdie putt on the fourth hole, a moment that set the tone for the day. A wayward tee shot on the par‑five eighth could have been costly, but McIlroy capitalized on the mistake, turning it into a birdie opportunity. He then broke a string of consecutive pars with an eight‑foot birdie on the par‑three 13th, demonstrating his deft touch around the greens.
Continuing his momentum, the Masters champion holed a five‑foot putt on the 15th and then delivered a back‑to‑back birdie finish on the final two holes, moving his score to six under par. This surge 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 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." The leaderboard was dynamic.
Woodland, who had opened with a 64 despite a closing bogey, set the early benchmark after an impressive hole‑out eagle on the 11th. Spaun slipped back to six under after a late bogey, while Clark rallied dramatically, posting five birdies in his final six holes to join the leaders. Gotterup briefly threatened to break away after a three‑birdie stretch beginning at the 13th, but he was forced to settle for a par on the final hole after holing a 20‑footer to save his score, leaving him also at six under.
Matt Fitzpatrick sat just one shot behind after a solid 65, and both Ludvig Åberg and Alex Fitzpatrick recorded opening rounds of 66. Bob MacIntyre, who had withdrawn from the previous event, returned to the field with a respectable two‑under 68. Meanwhile, seasoned veterans Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood found themselves five strokes off the lead, indicating a tightly packed leaderboard that promised plenty of drama over the remaining rounds.
In stark contrast, pre‑tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler endured a nightmare start. After dominating the previous week with an eight‑shot victory, Scheffler stumbled out of the gates, carding four bogeys in his first seven holes and ultimately finishing the round at two over par (72). The disastrous opening left him tied for 44th out of the 50‑man field, a full eight strokes behind the leaders and a sobering reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in professional golf. The BMW Championship continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with coverage kicking off 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 contract‑free deal, ensuring that fans worldwide can follow the evolving storylines, from McIlroy’s promising resurgence to Scheffler’s unexpected setback. As the tournament progresses, the narrative will likely focus on whether McIlroy can sustain his early momentum and translate it into a final‑round victory, and how Scheffler will respond to his early adversity. Both players have the talent and experience to rebound, and the next few days will reveal whether McIlroy’s confidence is well‑placed and if Scheffler can regain the form that made him the favorite heading into the event. The competition remains wide open, and golf enthusiasts can expect a thrilling conclusion as the field battles for the coveted title.