Rory McIlroy found himself heading back to the practice range after his performance slipped 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 that put him in a tie for the lead, but on Friday he was only able to add a single stroke, carding a 69.
"I feel like the conditions were pretty similar to yesterday," McIlroy explained to the Golf Channel. "The wind shifted direction, but it was still very scorable. The greens stayed soft, and the ball seemed to have a little extra roll on the fairways, yet you could still see players posting solid scores today." He went on to admit that his own ball‑striking wasn’t as crisp as the day before, prompting him to schedule an afternoon session on the range.
"I didn’t hit it as well as I did yesterday, so I’m probably going to spend some time on the range this afternoon," he said. "I’m proud of how I just hung in there. I made a lot of good par putts on the back nine, especially.
The only bogey I had was a mistake on the par‑five eighth hole, but I saved a few pars afterward, which kept me in the hunt." When asked about the atmosphere at Bellerive, the six‑time major winner praised the fans. "They’re amazing. One of the biggest things I remember from being here in 2018 for the PGA was how many people turned out and the great vibe of playing in front of them," McIlroy said.
He added, "Yesterday was amazing for a Thursday. Today we teed off at 9:45 a.m.
on a Friday and the crowd was incredible. I’m looking forward to more of the same over the weekend." The leaderboard, meanwhile, featured a strong showing from two‑time U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, who remained the only player in the field yet to miss a cut. Clark led the tournament at 12‑under after posting consecutive rounds of 64.
Gary Woodland trailed just one shot behind, while another American, JJ Spaun, seemed poised to dominate the second round after moving to 11‑under at the turn. Spaun’s momentum stalled with three bogeys on the back nine, but two birdies—including a clutch birdie on the final hole—allowed him to finish as the clubhouse leader among early starters at 10‑under.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who had posted a two‑over 72 in the opening round, stumbled with a bogey on the first hole of round two. However, he rallied after the turn, stringing together five birdies and climbing back into contention, albeit sitting in a tie for 25th at three‑under. Beyond the immediate action, the tournament schedule for the PGA Tour in 2026 continues to feature a packed slate of events, with streaming options now available without a long‑term contract.
Golf fans can catch live coverage of the BMW Championship on Saturday from 4 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf and at 8:30 p.m. on Sky Sports Main Event, or they can opt for a contract‑free stream via NOW.
The event also highlights the growing accessibility of the sport, with platforms offering the ability to book tee times at over 1,700 courses across the United Kingdom and Ireland. While searching for a course, users can input a city or postal code to find nearby options, though occasional search errors may require a retry. Overall, McIlroy’s decision to spend extra time on the range underscores the fine margins that separate victory from a respectable finish on the PGA Tour. By adjusting his practice routine and staying focused on the fundamentals—solid ball‑striking, precise putting, and mental resilience—he hopes to rebound in the final round and contend for the title once again.
The supportive crowd, favorable conditions, and competitive field all set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the BMW Championship weekend.