Aaron Rai has emerged as the early clubhouse leader at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, carding a six-under 66. Rai, the US PGA champion, recorded five birdies in his first 10 holes and two more coming home, with one bogey.
Rory McIlroy initially made a flying start, reaching five under through 10 holes and holding the outright lead. However, his round unravelled with three bogeys over his final six holes, leading to a three-under 69. McIlroy bogeyed the third, sixth, and eighth holes.
Patrick Reed briefly shared the lead before also dropping a shot at the par-four eighth. Reed finished in a group on four under, which includes Masters winner and Open champion Ryan Fox, and Viktor Hovland. Rai's score is three shots better than McIlroy's and two ahead of Fox.