Rory McIlroy made it clear that, despite snapping into a share of the early lead at the BMW Championship, he still believes there is "a lot of work to be done" on his game. The Northern Irish star, who finished a disappointing 66th out of the 68 competitors who completed last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, admitted that he feels "far away" from the level he needs to sustain throughout the remainder of the PGA Tour season. The world No.
2 had been training with his long‑time mentor Michael Bannon back in Florida before traveling to Bellerive Country Club for the second leg of the FedExCup Playoffs. McIlroy opened his round with a blistering 64, punctuated by six birdies that demonstrated both his scoring ability and his renewed confidence. The round began with a 15‑foot birdie putt on the fourth hole, a shot that set the tone for the rest of his performance.
After a wayward tee shot on the par‑five eighth, he managed to turn the mis‑hit into an opportunity, capitalising on the hole’s generous layout to secure another birdie. McIlroy’s momentum continued on the par‑three 13th, where he rolled his ball into the cup from eight feet, snapping a string of pars and reminding everyone that his short‑game is still a formidable weapon.
He followed that with a five‑foot birdie on the 15th and then delivered a pair of birdies to close the round, finishing at six under par. That score placed him in a four‑way tie for the clubhouse lead alongside an American quartet: Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, JJ Spaun and Chris Gotterup.
When questioned by the press, 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 remarks underscored a realistic optimism; while the round was a clear improvement, he recognized that consistency over the long haul remains the ultimate goal. The leaderboard after the opening day was a mix of seasoned veterans and rising talents. Gary Woodland, who had set the early benchmark despite finishing his round with a bogey, had earlier produced a spectacular hole‑out eagle on the 11th. JJ Spaun, after a late‑round stumble that dropped a shot, settled at six under, while Wyndham Clark rallied dramatically, carding five birdies in his final six holes to join the leaders.
Chris Gotterup briefly threatened to take the solo lead after a three‑birdie surge starting at the 13th, but a clutch 20‑footer for par on the final hole kept him tied at six under. Matt Fitzpatrick, another former major champion, posted a solid 65 and sat just one shot behind the leaders. Ludvig Åberg and Alex Fitzpatrick each recorded opening‑round 66s, signaling that the young contingent is ready to challenge the established names. Bob MacIntyre, who had withdrawn from the previous event, bounced back with a two‑under 68, while former Open champion Justin Rose and former PGA champion Tommy Fleetwood found themselves five strokes off the lead, still within striking distance.
In stark contrast, pre‑tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler experienced a nightmarish start. After winning by eight strokes at the FedEx St.
Jude Championship the week before, Scheffler opened with a two‑over 72, riddled with four bogeys in the first seven holes. The stumble dropped him to a tie for 44th out of the 50‑man field, leaving him eight shots behind the leaders and highlighting how quickly fortunes can shift in professional golf. The BMW Championship will continue with live coverage beginning 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 event can be streamed via NOW with a contract‑free deal. The tournament promises further drama as the field jostles for FedExCup points, and McIlroy’s early surge suggests that the battle for the top spot is far from decided.
His candid acknowledgement of the work still required, combined with a flawless opening round, sets the stage for a compelling narrative as the playoffs progress. Overall, the first round showcased a blend of redemption, emerging talent, and unexpected setbacks.
McIlroy’s performance signals a potential return to form, while Scheffler’s early difficulties serve as a reminder that even the best can falter. As the competition moves forward, fans can expect tighter leaderboards, strategic adjustments, and the ever‑present possibility of surprise breakthroughs from both seasoned champions and hungry newcomers.