Rai and Lagergren share lead at BMW PGA Championship as McIlroy finishes three back

Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren have taken a share of the lead at the BMW PGA Championship after the first round at Wentworth, both recording scores of six-under-par 66. The Englishman, who won the PGA Championship in the United States in May, started on the ninth hole and carded back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11, before repeating the feat on 13 and 14. His Swedish counterpart matched the score to sit at the top of the leaderboard.

Rory McIlroy finished three shots off the lead after a difficult finish over his final five holes. Although he started strongly, the Northern Irishman’s round was characterised by a stumble in the closing stages, leaving him chasing the pace set by Rai and Lagergren.

2013 Masters champion Adam Scott also surged up the leaderboard in windy conditions, tying Ryan Gerard, Ludvig Åberg and Nacho Elvira for third place with scores of 67. Scott made birdies in clusters to go four under through his front nine, but a wayward drive on the 17th hole cost him his only bogey of the day before he recovered with a birdie on the 18th.

Patrick Reed, the current leader in the Race to Dubai rankings, tied for seventh place with a score of 68. He was joined in that position by Viktor Hovland, Ryan Fox and Robert MacIntyre, with 12 players in total carding 68s heading into the second round.

Jon Rahm endured a challenging first round, posting a six-over 78 after three bogeys and a double-bogey on his front nine. The result leaves him with a significant task to make the cut on Friday. Meanwhile, Justin Rose finished at one over par after struggling with his putting, fighting back from three down through 14 holes with back-to-back birdies on the final two holes.

Second-round coverage is scheduled for Friday on Sky Sports Golf, with early featured groups beginning at 7.30am and main coverage commencing at 12pm.