Ryan Gerard vaulted past Adam Scott and Filippo Celli to claim a two‑shot advantage at the midway point of the BMW PGA Championship, while Rory McIlroy delivered a solid performance on day two, finishing four strokes behind the leader. Scott and Celli had been sharing the clubhouse lead after the first half of the second round, both sitting at 10 under par. In the afternoon session Gerard produced a flawless, bogey‑free round of 65, which is seven under for the day, taking his total to 12 under and catapulting him into sole possession of the lead.
Aaron Rai, who had been co‑leader heading into Friday's round, ended up tied with Manuel Elvira for fourth place at nine under. His playing partners, McIlroy and Ryan Fox, were a shot further back, sharing sixth place with five other competitors.
Several high‑profile players missed the cut on Friday at Wentworth, notably European Ryder Cup stalwarts Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood, both of whom posted three‑over‑par scores for the day. The Spaniard endured a disastrous two days, accumulating an 11‑over‑par total after 36 holes – the worst 36‑hole score of his career – and found himself at the bottom of the leaderboard. Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick flirted with the cut line on Friday but rallied dramatically in the closing holes.
Both players chipped in on the 18th: Hatton holed a bunker shot for an eagle, while Fitzpatrick used a wedge to clear a stream and secure a birdie, allowing each to finish the round at four under par. Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed was forced to withdraw after injuring himself on a tee shot on the tenth hole.
The American had also struggled on the front nine, posting an eight‑over‑par score through the first nine holes. Windy conditions at Wentworth made it difficult for Gerard to keep his driver on the fairway, but his iron play was exceptional.
He nailed a long iron to the green on the fourth hole, setting up a birdie, and repeated the feat on the eighth. Consecutive birdies on holes 12 and 13 brought him within a shot of Scott and Celli, and an eagle on the par‑five 17th – again with a precise long‑iron from the rough – vaulted him ahead. Reflecting on his round, the 27‑year‑old said he focused on patience throughout the day, a strategy that paid dividends as he capped his round with a birdie on the 18th.
"I don't know if I was feeling an eagle, birdie finish, but I stayed patient all day," Gerard explained. "When you get to the last couple of holes at Wentworth they are gettable, but trouble is always lurking, so you have to be careful. Good things happen when you stick to the plan and execute shots." Adam Scott returned to Wentworth on Friday after a brilliant opening round of five under.
He struggled early, carding one over through his first four holes. Starting on the ninth, Scott made a quick adjustment to his putting on the fifth green, which helped him find his rhythm. He then recorded four straight birdies from holes 14 through 17.
"Over the first couple of holes my rhythm was a little off," the Australian said. "I made an adjustment on the fifth green and it went in, so I ran with that for the rest of the day. Sometimes you just have to find that one little thing, and I'm glad I made that adjustment early.
It helps the rest of the game; when you feel like the putter is good, you free up the rest of the game." Rory McIlroy, after admitting he "stumbled" toward the end of his first round, produced a markedly improved second‑round display. The reigning Masters champion began aggressively, posting four under through the first five holes. He thrilled the crowd on the par‑three second by chipping in from off the green for a birdie.
A missed fairway on the eighth proved costly, but McIlroy rebounded with birdies on the 11th and 14th. An over‑hit approach on the 16th forced a recovery, yet he finished strongly with consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th.
"I'm playing a bit better today than I did yesterday and hit a lot more fairways," McIlroy said. "Felt like I drove the ball better and gave myself a few more chances. I didn't feel like I was scrambling my way around most of the day today. Solid round." The tournament continues to build excitement as fans wonder who will ultimately lift the BMW PGA Championship trophy.
Early third‑round group coverage will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf on Saturday from 9 am, with main coverage commencing at 12 pm. Viewers can also explore Sky Sports deals or stream the action without a contract via NOW. For those looking to play a round themselves, the UK and Ireland offer over 1,700 courses. Golfers can search by course name, city, or postcode to find the best rates and book a tee time.