WATCH: Rory McIlroy Laughs Off Near Air-Shot At BMW PGA Championship
The four-time Major winner barely moved his ball in the wet rough at Wentworth


Rory McIlroy looked down and laughed after he barely moved his golf ball in the thick, wet rough at Wentworth on day one of the BMW PGA Championship.
The four-time Major champion, and 2014 BMW PGA winner, found the thick stuff on the par-4 8th hole with just under 130 yards to the green, with the shot made tougher after the heavens had opened. He opted to take the shot on over the water but the result was shocking, and brought him to laughter.
He took an almighty swipe at the ball and it barely moved a couple of feet, although he recovered well to find the green with his third shot and go on to post a bogey.
Watch the shot:
Woah 😮pic.twitter.com/Eg8zBWvh80September 8, 2022
McIlroy started his BMW PGA Championship quest in solid form, playing his front nine at Wentworth in one-under-par.
The Northern Irishman has won the Race to Dubai three times, as well as the FedEx Cup three times too, and is hoping to become the first golfer to win both in the same year. He currently leads the points list with just over two months left of the season.
"No one has won the FedExCup and Race to Dubai in the same year, so that's something that I'm trying to go for," he said this week. "I've been close before. Haven't quite gotten over the line, so that's something that I want to do. I last won The Race to Dubai back in 2015. I haven't played as much in Europe as I did before that. But I'm No. 1 in the points list. I have a good chance so I want to try to make the most of it."
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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, X and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered 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
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