The DP World Tour’s premier tournament commenced on Thursday at Wentworth for the 2026 BMW PGA Championship, drawing a stellar lineup of Europe’s top golfing talent. Although famous players remained within striking distance, the golfer who claimed the year’s most prestigious major trophy captured the leading spot after the opening round.
Striking an impressive 6-under 66, PGA Championship victor Aaron Rai secured a tie for the lead alongside Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren. Just a single shot behind is Adam Scott, who navigated the tougher afternoon conditions together with American competitor Ryan Gerard. Meanwhile, Patrick Reed and Viktor Hovland remain two strokes off the pace.
“I’m extremely happy with how things went,” Rai commented. “The environment was quite challenging, especially with heavy rainfall during our practice session. Luckily, the wind died down just as we kicked off, which made for a great start. I found my rhythm quickly, carded some early birdies, maintained solid play over the course of the day, and managed to save pars whenever I drifted off-target.”
Though Rai surged to the peak of the standings with a scorecard featuring seven birdies and a lone bogey, much of the attention shifted to the intriguing rivalry brewing between Reed and Rory McIlroy. The former Masters winner posted a first-round 69, hindered by three bogeys across his last six holes, contrasting sharply with the spectacular 12-under 60 he recorded during the preceding pro-am.
With the Race to Dubai rankings hanging in the balance, McIlroy is eager to close the gap on Reed as the end of the season approaches. Reed expanded his advantage over the seven-time champion after finishing second behind Shane Lowry at the Irish Open, and he is thoroughly enjoying holding off McIlroy’s chase during this autumn stretch.
“I’m looking forward to it,” McIlroy shared. “This is clearly a crucial week with plenty of ranking points up for grabs. After a subpar performance last week and Patrick’s strong showing, I slipped slightly further behind in the standings. The upcoming tournament in India promises to be another tough challenge with a deep field, and I’ve always enjoyed visiting Abu Dhabi and Dubai—both are venues where I’ve historically performed well. My goal is to arrive there with a realistic shot at the title, finish the season on a high note in the Middle East, and secure yet another Race to Dubai crown.”
On Thursday morning, both McIlroy and Reed briefly held shares of the lead. McIlroy dominated his initial nine holes (the course’s back nine), making the turn at 5 under after a birdie on the par-5 18th, though he subsequently dropped a couple of shots on the home stretch. On the other hand, Reed delivered a characteristically consistent performance.
The American golfer worked his way to 5 under to match the mark set by Rai and Lagergren, but a bogey on his closing hole—the par-4 8th—dropped him two shots off the pace of the co-leaders as they prepare for Friday’s action.
“Competing against Rory is always an enjoyable experience because it forces you to bring your absolute best game,” Reed remarked. “Considering his incredible career achievements and pedigree, he’s a true champion. He has won so many times, and when you want to match yourself against the absolute elite, he and Scottie Scheffler are the benchmarks. Getting the chance to battle him for the remainder of the season is going to be incredibly exciting, and I can’t wait.”
