Rory McIlroy found himself heading back to the practice range after his performance slipped a little during the second round of the BMW Championship in St. Louis. The defending Masters champion opened the tournament with an impressive six‑under‑par round, which placed him in a tie for the lead after day one.

However, on Friday his score only improved by a single stroke, as he carded a 69, which left him trailing the leaders and prompted a quick trip to the range for some extra work. In an interview with the Golf Channel, McIlroy reflected on the conditions he faced on the second day.

He noted that the weather was broadly similar to the previous round, but the wind had shifted direction, creating a slightly different challenge. "The wind was coming out of a different direction, but still very scorable," he said. He also mentioned that the greens remained soft, which meant that the ball tended to roll a bit more on the fairways, yet the course was still yielding low scores for many players.

McIlroy admitted that his own ball‑striking wasn't as sharp as it had been on Thursday. "I didn't quite hit it as good as I did yesterday, so probably an afternoon on the range for me," he explained, indicating that he would spend the remainder of the day working on his swing and contact.

Despite the setback, he expressed pride in his resilience. "I'm proud of how I just hung in there. A lot of good par putts on the back nine, especially.

The only bogey I had was with a mistake on the par‑five eighth hole, but I made some really good par saves coming in and that sort of kept me in it," he added. McIlroy also took a moment to praise the atmosphere created by the fans at Bellerive. The six‑time major winner recalled his first visit to the venue in 2018 for the PGA Championship, highlighting the sheer number of spectators and the electric vibe they generated.

"They're amazing, that's one of the biggest things I remember from being here in 2018 for the PGA was just how many people showed up and what a great atmosphere it was to play in," he said. He continued, "Yesterday was amazing for a Thursday. Today, teeing off at 9:45 on a Friday morning and the people out there were incredible. Looking forward to more of the same over the weekend." While McIlroy was regrouping, other storylines unfolded on the leaderboard.

Two‑time U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, the only competitor in the field who had not yet recorded a bogey, surged ahead with a total of 12 under par after posting consecutive rounds of 64. Gary Woodland trailed him by a single stroke, and fellow American JJ Spaun appeared poised to take command of the second round after moving to 11 under at the turn. Spaun, however, encountered three bogeys on the back nine, which halted his momentum.

He managed to finish with two birdies, including a clutch birdie on the final hole, and ended up as the clubhouse leader among the early starters at 10 under. World No.

1 Scottie Scheffler, who had posted a two‑over 72 in the opening round, struggled early on day two, carding a bogey on the first hole. Yet he rebounded strongly after the turn, delivering five birdies that lifted him back into contention. Despite the recovery, Scheffler remained tied for 25th place at three under par, still within striking distance of the leaders.

The tournament continued to draw attention from fans worldwide, with live coverage scheduled for Saturday afternoon on Sky Sports Golf and later on Sky Sports Main Event. For those without a traditional cable subscription, streaming options were highlighted, including a contract‑free service on NOW. Overall, McIlroy's decision to spend extra time on the range underscores his commitment to fine‑tuning his game when conditions shift. His candid remarks about the wind, the soft greens, and the supportive crowd provide a vivid snapshot of the challenges and thrills that define a high‑stakes event like the BMW Championship.

As the weekend progresses, all eyes will remain on the leaderboard to see whether McIlroy can translate his practice session into a stronger finish, and whether the early leaders can maintain their advantage amid the ever‑changing conditions at Bellerive.