PGA champion Aaron Rai and Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren just ripped through the Wentworth Golf Club, both firing off scorching 6-under 66s on Thursday to grab the lead at the BMW PGA Championship. These guys came to play, and they set a high bar right from the jump, shaking things up big time in Virginia Water, England.
Rai and Lagergren Set the Pace, Scott Stays Close
Rai, who hasn’t seen a top 10 since his major victory at Aronimink back in May, looked absolutely locked in. He dropped only one shot all day, missing the fairway on the 16th and then a 7-foot par putt. But what’s a stumble when you answer it immediately? He bounced right back with his seventh birdie of the round on the par-5 17th. That’s how you keep momentum, right? Lagergren, meanwhile, is fighting to hold his No. 69 spot in the Race to Dubai, and he certainly played like it. He overcame his lone bogey at No. 9 by sinking an eagle putt just outside 20 feet on the par-5 12th. Talk about clutch! He dominated the par 5s, finishing them 4 under.
Right on their heels, Adam Scott was practically flawless off the tee, except for one wild one that sailed left and out-of-bounds on the par-5 17th. He regrouped fast, though, hitting another tee shot and salvaging a bogey. Then he dropped his second shot within 5 feet on the par-5 18th, though he missed the eagle putt. Still, a 67 is solid, putting him one back alongside Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, American Ryan Gerard, and Spain’s Nacho Elvira. Aberg had his own moment with a double bogey on the 15th, a wild drive followed by three putts from 50 feet. It shows just how tough this course can be, even for the best.
McIlroy’s Wild Ride and Rahm’s Rough Day
Now, let’s talk Rory McIlroy. After causing a stir with a 60 in the celebrity pro-am, it looked like he was bringing that fire into Round 1. He started scorching hot with five birdies on the back nine, flying up the leaderboard like a rocket. But man, the front nine hit him hard. He went into the trees, then into a bunker, and then into the water. All those led to bogeys, knocking him down to a 69 and a tie for 19th. “Good way to put it , a stumble home,” McIlroy admitted, clearly frustrated after a pedestrian Irish Open. “I wish I was standing here a couple of shots better.” We’ve all been there, right?
Then there’s Jon Rahm, and honestly, it was a rough one. He made only one birdie all day, finishing with a 78. That’s his highest score in a non-major since 2021! You just don’t see that from Rahm often, and it makes you wonder what’s going on out there. The wind at Wentworth, swirling through the treetops, certainly caused some uncertainty, but these scores show who adapted best.
With Rai and Lagergren leading the charge and McIlroy looking for answers, you know the next round is going to be absolutely nuts. Can Rai keep his cool and finally snag that first top 10 since his major win? Will McIlroy shake off that front nine collapse and get back into contention? You gotta tune in, because this tournament is just getting started!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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