RORY MCILROY IS three shots behind clubhouse leader Aaron Rai after his first round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, while Shane Lowry is two further back.
Rai, a Major winner at the PGA Championship this year, carded a first round of six-under 66.
McIlroy held the lead on five-under after 10 holes, and was joint leader for a spell thereafter, but slipped back with two bogeys in his last three holes. He found a greenside bunker on the 6th (his 16th hole) and was unable to get up and down for par, while his second shot on the par-four 8th found the water, leading to him close out with a bogey.
The Masters champion had produced a blistering run of form early on, reeling off five birdies by the time he had reached the turn.
While McIlroy finished with a 69, the newly-crowned Irish Open champion Lowry had a round of 71. He finished impressively with a birdie on his last hole of the day, the par-four 8th.
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First round 69 for McIlroy and 71 for Lowry at Wentworth
RORY MCILROY IS three shots behind clubhouse leader Aaron Rai after his first round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, while Shane Lowry is two further back.
Rai, a Major winner at the PGA Championship this year, carded a first round of six-under 66.
McIlroy held the lead on five-under after 10 holes, and was joint leader for a spell thereafter, but slipped back with two bogeys in his last three holes. He found a greenside bunker on the 6th (his 16th hole) and was unable to get up and down for par, while his second shot on the par-four 8th found the water, leading to him close out with a bogey.
The Masters champion had produced a blistering run of form early on, reeling off five birdies by the time he had reached the turn.
While McIlroy finished with a 69, the newly-crowned Irish Open champion Lowry had a round of 71. He finished impressively with a birdie on his last hole of the day, the par-four 8th.
More to follow….
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Golf PGa Championship Rory McIlroy Shane Lowry Wentworth