Aaron Rai found himself tied for the lead after the opening round of the BMW PGA Championship, sharing the top spot with Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren, while Rory McIlroy slipped three strokes back after a promising start. The Englishman impressed spectators with a series of precise approach shots, and both Rai and Lagergren posted six‑under‑par 66s at the historic Wentworth Club. The windy conditions did not deter 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott, who surged into a four‑way tie for third place alongside Ryan Gerard, Ludvig Åberg and Nacho Elvira, each carding a 67.
The leaderboard was a bustling mix of seasoned veterans and rising talents, setting the stage for a thrilling second day. Among the contenders, Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed was among a dozen players who shared seventh place heading into day two.
He posted a 68, as did Viktor Hovland, Ryan Fox and Robert MacIntyre, all of whom were comfortably positioned within striking distance of the leaders. World No.
1 Jon Rahm endured a difficult opening round, accumulating three bogeys and a double‑bogey on the front nine, ultimately finishing with a six‑over‑par 78. The result left him with a substantial amount of work to do to make the cut on Friday. Former major champion Justin Rose also faced challenges, particularly with his putting. After falling three strokes behind through the first 14 holes, he managed to claw back to a one‑over‑par 71, thanks to birdies on the final two holes.
Rai, who teed off on the ninth hole, launched his round with vigor, recording consecutive birdies on holes 10 and 11, and 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.
The Englishman, who captured the PGA Championship in the United States earlier in May, said the early birdies gave him confidence and helped him maintain composure throughout his round. Adam Scott also got off to a brisk start, stringing together birdies in clusters and moving four under through his front nine. A mis‑hit drive on the 17th hole produced 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 remarked.
"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 day was a blend of promise and frustration. Starting on the ninth, he birdied the 10th and 12th holes and added further birdies on 16, 17 and 18, demonstrating his sharp iron play and solid putting on the front half of the round.
However, his driving accuracy proved costly; he missed 10 of the 14 fairways he attempted. A bogey on the third hole, followed by a birdie on the fourth, was offset by a two‑over finish on his final three holes, including a water‑hazard encounter on the eighth.
"A stumble home is a good way to put it," McIlroy said of his closing holes. "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 showcased a tightly packed leaderboard, with several players within a few strokes of each other.
Rai’s aggressive birdie runs, Scott’s balanced play, and McIlroy’s mixed performance all point to a competitive tournament as the field moves into the second day. Golf fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports Golf, with early coverage beginning at 7:30 a.m. and main coverage launching at noon.
For those interested in playing the courses featured on the tour, there are over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland available for booking. By entering a course name, city, or postal code, golfers can find the best rates and secure a tee time. As the tournament progresses, the question on everyone’s mind is who will ultimately claim the BMW PGA Championship title. With multiple players already demonstrating strong form, the competition promises to be intense and unpredictable, offering plenty of drama for fans and participants alike.