Rory McIlroy made it clear that, despite snapping into a share of the early lead at the BMW Championship, he still believes there is plenty of work left on his game. The Northern Irish star, who missed the cut at The Open just weeks earlier and finished a disappointing 66th out of the 68 competitors who completed last week’s FedEx St.
Jude Championship, said he feels "far away" from where he wants to be as the PGA Tour season progresses. The world No. 2 has been back at his home base in Florida, fine‑tuning his swing with longtime coach Michael Bannon, before heading to Bellerive Country Club for the second FedExCup Playoff event. McIlroy opened with a blistering 64, carding six birdies in the first round and instantly catapulting himself into a tie for the clubhouse lead alongside a quartet of Americans – Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, JJ Spaun and Chris Gotterup.
His round began with a decisive 15‑foot birdie putt on the fourth hole, a moment that set the tone for the rest of his round. After a wayward tee shot on the par‑five eighth, he recovered brilliantly, turning the hole into a birdie opportunity. He then broke a string of pars by sinking an eight‑foot putt on the par‑three 13th, and later holed a five‑foot putt on the 15th.
McIlroy capped the day with a back‑to‑back birdie finish, finishing six under par and sharing the top spot. When speaking to the media after his round, McIlroy emphasized that he feels he is "at least back on the right path" with his swing and overall game, but he was quick to add that it remains a "work in progress." He described the day as encouraging, yet reminded everyone that there is still a substantial amount of improvement required.
"For the first round, with what I'm trying to do, it went as well as it could have today," he said. The leaderboard after round one reflected a tightly packed field. Gary Woodland set the early benchmark with a 64, despite a bogey on the final hole, after having made an eagle on the 11th. JJ Spaun briefly 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 made a dramatic push with a three‑birdie surge starting at the 13th, but a 20‑foot putt saved par on the last hole, leaving him tied at six under. Matt Fitzpatrick sat just one shot behind after posting a solid 65.
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, still within striking distance.
The tournament’s pre‑event favorite, Scottie Scheffler, who dominated the previous week with an eight‑stroke victory, endured a nightmare start at Bellerive. Four bogeys in his first seven holes forced him into a two‑over 72, dropping him to a tie for 44th out of the 50‑man field – a stark contrast to the form that had made him the odds‑on pick. McIlroy’s resurgence is significant not just for his personal confidence but also for the broader narrative of the FedExCup Playoffs. After a season that has seen him swing between flashes of brilliance and periods of struggle, his early lead suggests he may be finding the consistency required to contend in the final stages of the tour.
The Northern Irishman’s candid acknowledgment that there is "a lot of work to be done" underscores his commitment to refining every aspect of his game – from tee‑to‑green strategy to mental resilience under pressure. Looking ahead, the BMW Championship will continue live on Sky Sports+ from 3 p.m. on Thursday, with a secondary broadcast on Sky Sports Golf at 5:30 p.m. For viewers without a Sky subscription, alternative streaming options are available through NOW with no‑contract plans.
The tournament promises to deliver further drama as the field jostles for position, and McIlroy’s performance will be closely watched to see if he can sustain his momentum and translate this early success into a deeper run, possibly even a victory, as the FedExCup Playoffs draw to a close.