VIRGINIA WATER — Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren set the early pace Thursday at the 2026 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, each firing a 6-under 66 to share the first-round lead. The pair finished one shot clear of Adam Scott, Ludvig Åberg, Ryan Gerard and Nacho Elvira, who each opened with 67s, while Rory McIlroy slipped to a 3-under 69 and Jon Rahm struggled to a 6-over 78.
Rai handled the swirling wind with seven birdies and only one bogey, an encouraging start for a player still searching for another top-10 finish since winning the PGA Championship at Aronimink in May. "I felt like I got into the round fast and got a couple birdies early on," Rai said. "I continued to just play well throughout the round and keep the momentum going when I was out of position." Lagergren matched him with a 66 that included an eagle at the par-5 12th. The Swede played Wentworth's par 5s in 4 under and strengthened his position in the Race to Dubai with six events remaining before the postseason.
McIlroy looked ready to challenge after carrying momentum from an unofficial 60 in Wednesday's pro-am. He opened with five birdies on his first nine holes and reached 5 under before trouble off the tee sent him into trees, a bunker and water during the closing stretch, leading to three bogeys. "Good way to put it - a stumble home," McIlroy said. "I wish I was standing here a couple of shots better." He added, "I brought that feeling for the most part into today and [I'm] a bit disappointed with the way I finished. But still a good score to build on and some very good signs in the game," after struggling with his putter at the Irish Open. Adam Scott also came within one shot of the lead despite an errant drive out of bounds at the par-5 17th, recovering with a bogey before birdieing the 18th to shoot 67.
Rahm endured the roughest day among the marquee names, making only one birdie while shooting 78 to match his highest score in a non-major DP World Tour event since 2021. With Rai and Lagergren setting the standard, the leaderboard is already crowded and star power remains within striking distance heading into Friday. The opening round follows a week where the BMW PGA Championship field loaded with stars at Wentworth was billed as one of the strongest of the DP World Tour season.