Rai and Lagergren set the pace
Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren share the lead at the 2026 BMW PGA Championship after each opened with a 6-under 66 at Wentworth on Thursday. Rai's round included seven birdies and a single bogey, at the 16th, while Lagergren matched him with an eagle at the par-5 12th and played the par 5s in 4 under. The pair finished one shot clear of Adam Scott, Ludvig Åberg, Ryan Gerard and Nacho Elvira, who all signed for 67s.[S1][S2]
For Rai, the fast start is a welcome sign as he seeks another top-10 finish since winning the PGA Championship at Aronimink in May. He said he got into the round quickly, picked up a couple of early birdies and kept the momentum going even when out of position. Lagergren, meanwhile, strengthened his position in the Race to Dubai with six events remaining before the postseason.[S1][S2]
McIlroy's stumble home
Rory McIlroy arrived at Wentworth carrying momentum from an unofficial 60 in Wednesday's pro-am and opened his competitive round with five birdies on his first nine holes, reaching 5 under through 10. But trouble off the tee sent him into trees, a bunker and water during the closing stretch, producing three bogeys in his final five holes and a 3-under 69. He described it as a stumble home and said he wished he were standing a couple of shots better.[S1][S2]
McIlroy still saw progress after struggling with his putter at the Irish Open, saying he brought that feeling into the round for the most part and was a bit disappointed with how he finished, but that it was a good score to build on with some very good signs in his game.[S1]
Scott close, Rahm struggles
Adam Scott came within one shot of the lead despite an errant drive out of bounds at the par-5 17th. He recovered with a bogey and then birdied the 18th to shoot 67. Jon Rahm endured the roughest day among the marquee names, making only one birdie while shooting a 6-over 78, matching his highest score in a non-major DP World Tour event since 2021.[S1][S2]
Behind the leaders, Ryan Fox, Bob MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland sit two shots off the pace, while Shane Lowry, fresh from heroics on home soil at the Irish Open last week, carded a 71. With Rai and Lagergren setting the standard, the leaderboard is already crowded and plenty of star power remains within striking distance.[S1][S2]
