(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Rory McIlroy Battles Tough Conditions at BMW PGA Championship as Aberg and Vaillant Lead
Rory McIlroy endured a frustrating finish on day one of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, finding the water on the final hole to card a three-under-par 69. The world number two, fresh from his dramatic victory at the Irish Open last weekend, sits five shots off the early lead after a rain-disrupted opening round in Surrey.
Strong Start but Late Slip
McIlroy began in style, chipping in for birdie at the first hole and adding another at the par-five fourth. Despite a bogey at the fifth, further birdies on the 10th, 12th and 16th had him well-placed heading into the closing stretch.
However, his approach on the par-five 18th found the water, resulting in a closing bogey. With darkness falling after a lengthy rain delay earlier in the day, the Northern Irishman signed for a 69 – leaving him in touch but with ground to make up ahead of the weekend.
Aberg and Vaillant Share the Lead
At the top of the leaderboard, Ludvig Aberg and Tom Vaillant surged into joint first with sparkling rounds of eight-under-par 64.
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Aberg recovered from an opening bogey to record a flawless stretch of birdies, including three in a row to finish.
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Vaillant mixed in two early bogeys but stormed home with six birdies in his last seven holes.
South Africa’s Casey Jarvis sits alone in third after a 65, while Matt Fitzpatrick impressed with a six-under 66 to sit two shots back despite a closing bogey. Justin Rose and Shane Lowry are both at five-under, keeping themselves firmly in contention.
Big Names in Action
Spain’s Jon Rahm struggled to find rhythm but finished strongly with birdies at 16 and 17 to post a one-under 71. Meanwhile, his Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood closed on one-over.
In total, 11 of Europe’s Ryder Cup squad were in action on Thursday, using the BMW PGA Championship as valuable preparation ahead of their showdown with the United States later this month.
With rain delays pushing play into near darkness, several groups will complete their opening rounds on Friday morning before round two begins.
