McIlroy falters as Rai shares lead at Wentworth

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsClose menu BBC SportMenuHomeFootballCricketFormula 1Rugby UTennisGolfCyclingAthleticsMoreA-Z SportsAmerican FootballAthleticsBasketballBoxingCricketCyclingDartsDisability SportFootballFormula 1Gaelic GamesGolfGymnasticsHorse RacingMixed Martial ArtsMotorsportNetballRugby LeagueRugby UnionSnookerSwimmingTennisFull Sports A-ZMore from SportEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandQuizzesNews FeedsHelp & FAQsGolfSolheim Cup ScoresLeaderboardsCalendarMcIlroy falters as Rai shares lead at Wentworth Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Rory McIlroy (left) is aiming to win a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title -6 A Rai (Eng), J Lagergren (Swe); -5 R Gerard (US), A Scott (Aus), I Elvira (Spa), L Aberg (Swe) Selected others: -4 P Reed (US), R Fox (NZ), R MacIntrye (Sco), V Hovland (Nor), T Detry (Bel); -3 R Fisher (Eng), R McIlroy (NI), D Law (Sco), A Sullivan (Eng), E Ferguson (Sco), J Dean (Eng); -2 T Hatton (Eng), JJ Spaun (US); -1 S Lowry (Ire) -1 M Wallace (Eng); E A Fitzpatrick (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (Eng) While Rory McIlroy sparkled and then suffered a late stumble, Aaron Rai was a model of consistency as he shot a six-under 66 to share the first-round lead with Sweden's Joakim Lagergren at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Rai, who became England's most recent major winner earlier this season, knocked in seven birdies, with the only blemish to his card arriving on the 16th, when he found the fairway bunker off the tee and ended with a bogey five. Lagergren, whose one and only win on the DP World Tour was back in 2018, also made a fine start with an eagle on the 12th, the highlight of his round. Six-time major winner McIlroy had got under way in sensational fashion earlier in the day until his round unravelled on the back nine. The Northern Irishman was five under after 10 holes and in the outright lead but some erratic driving proved costly after the turn on a course he covered in 60 in Wednesday's pro-am. And when McIlroy also found the water on his penultimate hole, it contributed to one of his three bogeys in the final seven - leaving him at three under, three strokes adrift of the joint-leaders. American Ryan Gerard, Australia's Adam Scott, Spain's Nacho Elvira and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg are at five under, while Patrick Reed, the only player above McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings, is one of 12 players at four under. Reed, who is bidding to become only the second American after Collin Morikawa to win the Race to Dubai, is in a group two shots off the lead with Open champion Ryan Fox, Norway's Viktor Hovland and Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, who made birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to conclude with a flourish. However, it was a difficult day for Spain's two-time major winner Jon Rahm, who carded a six-over 78. Birdies proved difficult to come by as Rahm played alongside Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood, with none of the trio picking up a single shot on the front nine. While the English duo were able to make five birdies between them on the back nine to finish at one over, Rahm toiled to five bogeys and a double bogey as he repeatedly found trouble off the tee. Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who outlined his reluctance to travel to Dubai for November's season-ending DP World Tour Championship event on Wednesday, is at level par, along with his younger brother Alex. ShortsPreviousNext1:30Is Real Madrid the right place for JJ Gabriel? 00:01:30, play videoIs Real Madrid the right place for JJ Gabriel?0:44Is this the best FPL free hit team this week? 00:00:44, play videoIs this the best FPL free hit team this week?0:37Why is the Canadian PM an Everton fan? 00:00:37, play videoWhy is the Canadian PM an Everton fan?0:28What being in the Europa League means to Bournemouth fans... 00:00:28, play videoWhat being in the Europa League means to Bournemouth fans...1:15Asher-Smith picks her iconic female Olympic moments. 00:01:15, play videoAsher-Smith picks her iconic female Olympic moments1:11A river home to crocodiles is hosting Olympic rowing... 00:01:11, play videoA river home to crocodiles is hosting Olympic rowing...0:56'We can turn this around' - Carrick. 00:00:56, play video'We can turn this around' - Carrick0:42Verstappen beats 100 go-karters in Silverstone challenge 00:00:42, play videoVerstappen beats 100 go-karters in Silverstone challenge 1:13Who should make the England squad? 00:01:13, play videoWho should make the England squad? 0:33'We've got to be careful' - Carrick. 00:00:33, play video'We've got to be careful' - Carrick1:26'This player should be in the next England squad...' 00:01:26, play video'This player should be in the next England squad...'1:18'It's taken us 53 years, but we are back!' 00:01:18, play video'It's taken us 53 years, but we are back!'1:03Morrison - United nowhere near good enough. 00:01:03, play videoMorrison - United nowhere near good enough0:50'I did it because I loved it' - St Leger winner Osborne. 00:00:50, play video'I did it because I loved it' - St Leger winner Osborne1:29JJ Gabriel the same category as Lamine Yamal? 00:01:29, play videoJJ Gabriel the same category as Lamine Yamal?1:14What next for JJ Gabriel? 00:01:14, play videoWhat next for JJ Gabriel?0:39'It's energy draining' - Earps and Parris discuss past. 00:00:39, play video'It's energy draining' - Earps and Parris discuss past1:08Millroy speaks to rescuer for first time since he saved his life. 00:01:08, play videoMillroy speaks to rescuer for first time since he saved his lifeTop storiesLive. Europa League: Bournemouth and Palace make competition debuts Live. Sinisalo returns as Celtic host Ferencvaros in Europa League - follow build-up Watch every gripping episode of This City Is Ours before it returns Victims unite to hunt down a conman who stole their hearts and money A team that offered hope... then, four months later, Hamas attacked Israel How history-making Classic success helped jockey shed fear of failure This is what women in sport look like - female athletes hit back Left in the dark - will fans ever get to hear live VAR audio? 'Big Ludo' - trailblazing keeper who became West Ham cult figure How youth helped Nordqvist answer critics and deliver Solheim Cup win Who will reach Super Bowl? - NFL predictions for 2026 season Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

---

Source: BBC Sport

This article has been carefully curated and reformatted for educational and informational purposes. Full credit goes to the original publisher.

---

📚 Visit more helpful articles on Joab Peters Blog