Aaron Rai emerged as a co‑leader after the opening round of the BMW PGA Championship, sharing the top spot with Sweden's Joakim Lagergren while Rory McIlroy slipped three shots behind after a promising start. The Englishman displayed brilliant approach play, posting a six‑under‑par 66 at Wentworth, a score matched by Lagergren, who also carded a 66.
The windy conditions did not deter 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott, who surged into a tie for third place alongside Ryan Gerard, Ludvig Åberg and Nacho Elvira, each posting a 67. Their performances lifted them into the upper tier of the leaderboard as the field settled after the first 18 holes. Patrick Reed, currently leading the Race to Dubai rankings, was among a dozen players who found themselves tied for seventh place heading into day two. He posted a 68, as did Viktor Hovland, Ryan Fox and Robert MacIntyre, all of whom shared the same score and positioned themselves well for the next round.
Jon Rahm endured a difficult opening round, accumulating three bogeys and a double‑bogey on his front nine, which resulted in a six‑over 78. The poor start left him with a substantial amount of work to do in order to make the cut on Friday. Justin Rose, struggling with his putting, managed to claw his way back after being three strokes down through 14 holes. He finished the day at one over par, thanks to crucial birdies on the 17th and 18th holes that helped him recover some ground.
Rai, who began his round on the ninth tee, hit the ground running. He recorded consecutive birdies on holes 10 and 11, repeated the feat on 13 and 14, and maintained a steady rhythm throughout the round.
"I felt like I got into the round fast and got a couple of birdies early on and continued to just play well throughout the round and keep the momentum going when I was out of position," Rai explained after his victory in the U.S. PGA Championship in May.
Adam Scott also enjoyed a rapid start, stringing together birdies in clusters and reaching four under par through his front nine. A wayward drive on the 17th cost him his only bogey of the day, but he quickly recovered with a birdie on the 18th. "I would say that was one of my best rounds, tee to green this year," Scott said.
He added, "Not really sure why, just a nice tee shot off the first, kind of calmed any nerves and then went about my business from there. It's a nice way to play Wentworth when there's low stress. I know I'm going to have to dig deep to hang in there this week." McIlroy's first day was a mixture of highs and lows. Starting on the ninth, he birdied the 10th and 12th holes and added further birdies on 16, 17 and 18, showing that his short game was clicking.
However, his driving accuracy faltered; the 37‑year‑old missed 10 of the 14 fairways he could have hit. After a bogey‑birdie swing on holes 3 and 4, he finished the round two over par on his final three holes, including a water‑hazard encounter on the eighth that left a sour taste at the end. "A stumble home is a good way to put it," McIlroy reflected. "I wish I was standing here a couple of shots better.
That's what I feel I should be, but overall, I saw some good signs in my game and saw some putts go in, which was encouraging compared to last week. It's definitely a score I can build on." The first round also highlighted the depth of the field, with several seasoned veterans and rising stars navigating the challenging Wentworth layout. The course, known for its undulating fairways and strategic bunkering, tested players' precision off the tee and demanded creative shot‑making around the greens. Wind added an extra layer of difficulty, especially on the more exposed holes where club selection became crucial.
Looking ahead, the competition promises to intensify as the leaders aim to consolidate their positions and the chasing pack seeks to close the gap. Rai and Lagergren will need to maintain their composure under pressure, while McIlroy will be eager to rebound from his stumble and leverage his strong short‑game performance. Meanwhile, Scott's confidence after a solid opening round could propel him into contention if he can tighten his driving accuracy.
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