McIlroy Shares BMW Championship Lead After Opening 66

Rory McIlroy opened the BMW Championship with a six-under-par 66, earning a share of the first-round lead at Bellerive Country Club. BBC Sport reported that the world number two finished alongside Americans Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, JJ Spaun and Chris Gotterup at the top of the leaderboard.

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McIlroy reached the turn at two under par before accelerating late in his round. He birdied the 13th hole and then made three more birdies over the final four, a closing sequence that moved him into the five-way tie. The performance followed his 66th-place finish at the St Jude Championship in Memphis the previous weekend.

The Northern Irishman credited work with swing coach Michael Bannon and caddie Harry Diamond for helping him move back in the direction he wanted after Memphis. Speaking to Golf Channel, McIlroy said he had restored some of the movement he was seeking in his swing, although he remained uncertain how that work would translate when competition began.

McIlroy also said Bellerive offered a more comfortable fit for his game than the Memphis course. He pointed to wider playing corridors and more room for error off the tee, acknowledging that he benefited from that margin on several shots during the round. His comments framed the score as a combination of improved preparation and a course setup that suited him better.

Japan's Ryo Hisatsune finished one stroke behind the leaders at five under. England's Alex Fitzpatrick, Sweden's Ludvig Aberg and American Michael Thorbjornsen were among the players tied for seventh at four under, while Matt Fitzpatrick was three under. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre returned a two-under round after withdrawing from the St Jude Championship before its second round following an opening 82.

World number one Scottie Scheffler endured a difficult start to his title defence. The defending BMW Championship champion, who arrived after winning the St Jude Championship on Sunday, made four bogeys across his opening seven holes and fell well down the field. With five players sharing first place and Hisatsune only one shot back, the opening round left the tournament tightly grouped at the top.