Rai and Lagergren Share BMW PGA First-Spherical Lead at -6; McIlroy Three Again, Rahm Shoots 78

Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren share the first-round lead on the 2026 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Both carded 6-under-par 66s on Thursday to open a one-shot hole over a cluster of gamers at 5-under.

Adam Scott, Ryan Gerard, Ludvig Åberg, and Nacho Elvira sit in a four-way tie for third at -5 (67), with a 12-player group at -4 (68) together with Viktor Hovland, Ryan Fox, Robert MacIntyre, and Patrick Reed.

Rory McIlroy sits three pictures off the tempo at -3, tied for nineteenth. Despite birdying all 4 par-5s on the West Course, he couldn’t maintain the momentum via the remainder of his spherical. The Race to Dubai battle between McIlroy and Reed stays very a lot alive, with each males positioned nicely inside rivalry heading into Friday.

At the opposite finish of the sphere, Jon Rahm carded a 6-over 78 — one of many worst rounds of the day — leaving the previous world No. 1 dealing with a troublesome reduce line after a disappointing opening day at Wentworth.

The BMW PGA Championship continues via Sunday.