Rory McIlroy Lights Up Wentworth With 65 To Lead BMW PGA

McIlroy looked back to his best on day two of the BMW PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy Lights Up Wentworth

The four-time major winner is in a commanding position after 36 holes

Rory McIlroy Lights Up Wentworth With 65 To Lead BMW PGA

Rory McIlroy wowed the crowds this morning at Wentworth with a sublime bogey-free 65.

The four-time major winner's ball striking was imperious and he was putting beautifully to make seven birdies around the West Course for a four stroke lead by the time he finished.

Related: BMW PGA Championship leaderboard

He began the day two strokes back of the lead at five under after a 67 yesterday and quickly took control with birdies at the 4th, 7th and 9th to go out in 32.

He parred 10 and 11 before a run of four birdies at 12, 13, 14 and 15.

McIlroy's approach to the 14th:

A photo posted by on

He holed a long putt at the 13th, stiffed it at the uphill par-3 14th and then rolled in a tram-liner on 15 to reach -7 for the day and -12 for the tournament.

The 29-year-old parred the final three holes, once again finishing 5-5 on the two closing par 5s.

"I played really well, to go bogey-free around here, I think I only missed one green, not by a lot," he said after his round.

"It was one of the best rounds of golf I've played this year, ball-striking-wise.

"There's still a couple of loose shots in there, like the one on 18 [missed green right] but overall it was a great round of golf.

"I had everything sort of firing today and it was nice to take advantage of the opportunities I gave myself."

McIlroy tees off the 3rd hole in front of huge galleries that grew as the day went on. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

England's Sam Horsfield is McIlroy's closed challenger at the time of writing. Horsfield followed up yesterday's 68 with a 67 today which included four birdies in five holes on the back nine.

Robert Rock shot 68 to be at -7 after 36 holes along with McIlroy's playing partner and defending champion Alex Noren.

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Kiradech Aphibarnrat is also at -7 after a 69.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV