RORY MCILROY FINISHED with two birdies to ensure he is four shots off leader Ryan Gerard heading into the weekend at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
McIlroy recorded a second round 67 to go with his opening 69, leaving him on eight-under after his second round. US player Gerard is the leader on 12-under after his 65 today, two shots clear of Adam Scott and Filippo Celli.
Australian Scott carded a round of five-under on Friday morning, his second successive 67, to take him to 10-under at the halfway point. He was subsequently joined by Italian Celli, who carded a round of 66 today, on that mark.
McIlroy is trying to reel in Patrick Reed to win a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai. Reed – bidding to become only the second American after Collin Morikawa to win the Race to Dubai – retired with injury at nine over in his second round, opening the door for McIlroy over the weekend.
“Unfortunately he’s pulled out this week, which gives me an opportunity to try to claw back some ground that I lost last week in Ireland,” said the world number two.
“This weekend is a big weekend for me to pick up a few points and make the race even tighter going into these last few weeks.”
McIlroy got off to a brilliant start with three birdies in his first five holes before dropping a shot at the par-four 8th. He rebounded with birdies on 11 and 14, before again slipping back with a bogey on the 16th.
But the Masters champion rallied brilliantly with birdies oh two closing par-fives to leave himself in contention heading to Saturday’s third round. He’s part of a group on eight-under that includes 2025 US Open winner JJ Spaun and 2026 Open champion Ryan Fox, while 2026 PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai is nine-under.
Shane Lowry has made the cut by shooting a round of three under, to card a -4 overall.
The Irish Open champion had two bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes to leave some doubt, but he rallied and recovered with two consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.
Going home, however, is Padraig Harrington who had a difficult day, hitting no fewer than eight bogeys today to record a score of five over for the day, and seven over altogether.
Tom McKibbin is also following him, a score of par for the course leaving him with +1 overall.
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
McIlroy four shots off leader Gerard after second round at PGA Championship
LAST UPDATE | 18 Sep
RORY MCILROY FINISHED with two birdies to ensure he is four shots off leader Ryan Gerard heading into the weekend at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
McIlroy recorded a second round 67 to go with his opening 69, leaving him on eight-under after his second round. US player Gerard is the leader on 12-under after his 65 today, two shots clear of Adam Scott and Filippo Celli.
Australian Scott carded a round of five-under on Friday morning, his second successive 67, to take him to 10-under at the halfway point. He was subsequently joined by Italian Celli, who carded a round of 66 today, on that mark.
McIlroy is trying to reel in Patrick Reed to win a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai. Reed – bidding to become only the second American after Collin Morikawa to win the Race to Dubai – retired with injury at nine over in his second round, opening the door for McIlroy over the weekend.
“Unfortunately he’s pulled out this week, which gives me an opportunity to try to claw back some ground that I lost last week in Ireland,” said the world number two.
“This weekend is a big weekend for me to pick up a few points and make the race even tighter going into these last few weeks.”
McIlroy got off to a brilliant start with three birdies in his first five holes before dropping a shot at the par-four 8th. He rebounded with birdies on 11 and 14, before again slipping back with a bogey on the 16th.
But the Masters champion rallied brilliantly with birdies oh two closing par-fives to leave himself in contention heading to Saturday’s third round. He’s part of a group on eight-under that includes 2025 US Open winner JJ Spaun and 2026 Open champion Ryan Fox, while 2026 PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai is nine-under.
Shane Lowry has made the cut by shooting a round of three under, to card a -4 overall.
The Irish Open champion had two bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes to leave some doubt, but he rallied and recovered with two consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.
Going home, however, is Padraig Harrington who had a difficult day, hitting no fewer than eight bogeys today to record a score of five over for the day, and seven over altogether.
Tom McKibbin is also following him, a score of par for the course leaving him with +1 overall.
Adam Scott Golf PGa Championship Rory McIlroy Shane Lowry Wentworth