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 back to finish three strokes behind the leaders. The Englishman dazzled with precise approach shots, carding a six‑under‑par 66 at Wentworth, a score matched by Lagergren, who also posted 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 solid performances pushed them into contention early in the tournament. Patrick Reed, currently atop the Race to Dubai rankings, was among a dozen players who shared seventh place after posting a 68.
He was joined in that cluster by Viktor Hovland, Ryan Fox and Robert MacIntyre, all of whom recorded identical scores and positioned themselves well for the second day. Veteran Jon Rahm endured a difficult front nine, racking up three bogeys and a double‑bogey, which left him with a six‑over 78 and a substantial deficit to overcome in order to make the cut on Friday.
Meanwhile, former world number one Justin Rose struggled with his putting early on, falling three strokes behind through the first 14 holes. He managed to claw back to one over par by birdieing the final two holes, the 17th and 18th, demonstrating resilience despite a shaky start. Rai, who teed off from the ninth hole, got off to a rapid start, making consecutive birdies on holes 10 and 11, then repeating the feat on 13 and 14. "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 round.
He added that his confidence was bolstered by his recent triumph at the PGA Championship in the United States earlier in May. Adam Scott also displayed aggressive scoring, stringing together birdies in clusters and reaching four under par through his front nine.
A mis‑hit drive on the 17th hole cost him his only bogey of the day, but he recovered with a birdie on the 18th to finish strongly. "I would say that was one of my best rounds, tee to green this year," Scott said. He credited a calm start and low‑pressure approach for his performance, noting that he felt relaxed and in control throughout his round at Wentworth. McIlroy's day was a mixture of promise and disappointment.
Starting his round from the ninth tee, he birdied holes 10, 12, 16, 17 and 18, showcasing excellent wedge play and putting during the first ten holes. However, his driving accuracy faltered; he missed 10 of the 14 fairways he had the opportunity to hit. The inconsistency on the tee led to a bogey on the third hole, a birdie on the fourth, and ultimately two over par on his final three holes, including a costly water encounter on the eighth.
"A stumble home is a good way to put it," McIlroy reflected on his closing stretch. "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 leaderboard after round one therefore featured Rai and Lagergren at the summit with 66, a three‑stroke gap to the next tier of players such as Scott, Gerard, Åberg and Elvira on 67, and a broader field clustered around the 68‑69 range. The early results set the stage for a competitive second day, with many of the world's top golfers poised to chase the lead. Looking ahead, fans can catch live coverage of the featured groups on Sky Sports Golf starting at 7:30 am on Friday, with the main broadcast kicking off at noon.
For those without a Sky subscription, the event is also available via NOW streaming without a contract, offering flexible viewing options. Golf enthusiasts interested in playing on premier courses can explore booking opportunities at over 1,700 venues across the United Kingdom and Ireland. By entering a course name, city, or postal code on the booking platform, players can compare rates and secure tee times at a variety of locations, from historic links to modern parkland layouts. Overall, the first round of the BMW PGA Championship delivered a blend of thrilling birdies, strategic play, and a few missteps, setting up an intriguing contest as the field prepares to tackle the challenging Wentworth layout over the coming days.