Rory McIlroy bounced back from a disappointing St Jude Championship with a superb six-under-par 64 to share the lead
Rory McIlroy (Image: Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy produced the improved display he had identified as his objective with a commanding six-under-par opening round to share top spot at the BMW Championship in St Louis, while Scottie Scheffler suffered a challenging beginning.
After a deflating eight-over finish at the preceding week’s St Jude Championship, where Scheffler sailed to triumph, world number two McIlroy had admitted that simply showing flashes of encouraging form at Bellerive would ‘feel like a win’.
The back-to-back Masters champion had been delivering underwhelming performances since returning to action in Memphis, his first appearance since finishing tied for 40th at The Open.
Nevertheless, McIlroy showed indications of recapturing his touch during the early afternoon session, recording birdies at the fourth and eighth holes to reach the turn at two under.
A superb tee shot at the par-three 13th positioned the Holywood man to convert a seven-foot putt, before he claimed another shot following a thunderous drive on the 492-yard 15th.
McIlroy – sitting 13th in the play-off standings, securing his place in the 30-man season-ending Tour Championship – sustained his positive momentum to finish with consecutive birdies and register a pleasing 64. The golfer attributed some “good work” with swing coach Michael Bannon and caddie Harry Diamond after returning home from Memphis for helping him rediscover his rhythm.
“I felt at least like I got myself back going in the right direction, and what I wanted to do with my swing, but still you never know when you turn up here,” McIlroy told the Golf Channel.
“This golf course sets up a lot better for me than Memphis did last week. You can miss it a little bit off the tee, and the playing corridors are a lot wider, so you can get away with it, which I needed to get away with it a couple of times today.
“But this set-up suits my game a little bit better, and I definitely feel a little bit more comfortable on this golf course than I did last week.”
World number one Scheffler had been displaying outstanding form the week before, posting a closing round of 66 to claim his first win since January.
Scheffler had been looking to retain his crown from last year’s 15-under victory at Caves Valley, Maryland – but instead found himself struggling near the bottom of the leaderboard after accumulating four bogeys in the opening seven holes.
Despite recovering a stroke before making the turn, Scheffler then dropped another on the 10th.
A pair of birdies scattered amongst a sequence of pars enabled him to regain some stability, leaving Scheffler at two over, with only three players from the 50-strong field behind him.
Scheffler chose not to address the media after completing his round. American pair Gary Woodland – who drained a stunning 99-yard eagle on the 11th – and Wyndham Clark, after birdieing five of his last six holes, are both level with McIlroy at six under par.
JJ Spaun, a fellow former US Open champion, looked set to claim outright top spot before dropping a shot at the 18th, leaving him to share the lead with late finisher Chris Gotterup.
Matt Fitzpatrick wrapped up his round with back-to-back birdies to reach five under, joining Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune, while his brother Alex finds himself in a group one shot further adrift.