Rory McIlroy began the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth with a strong start but struggled to maintain momentum as his round progressed. The Northern Irish golfer was five under par through 10 holes, holding the outright lead, before a series of errors off the tee hampered his performance in the closing stages.

McIlroy, who shot a remarkable 60 during Wednesday’s pro-am round, was seeking to close the gap on Patrick Reed in the Race to Dubai standings, with Reed aiming for an eighth title. Starting his round on the ninth hole, McIlroy quickly made an impact with four birdies in his first five holes, most from very close range, including a 20-foot putt at the par-five 12th. He followed with three consecutive birdies from the 16th hole, sinking putts totaling just over five feet.

Despite leaving an eagle opportunity short at the 17th and missing a birdie chance at the second, McIlroy’s round remained under control until approaching the back nine. He bogeyed both the third and sixth holes, though a successful recovery at the fourth enabled him to bounce back with a birdie. He also managed to save par at the seventh.

The eighth hole proved costly when a poor drive landed McIlroy in deep rough, leading to a shot that found the pond guarding the green. This error resulted in his third bogey of the day. Ultimately, McIlroy carded a three-under 69, finishing with a solid yet disappointing round after his promising start.

Patrick Reed briefly shared the lead after recording his fifth birdie but similarly faltered on the 395-yard par-four eighth hole. Reed ended the day in a group tied at four under par alongside Fox and Viktor Hovland, who both produced steady rounds to remain in contention.