St. Louis, August 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Rory McIlroy made an impressive return to form with a bogey-free six-under 64 to share the opening-round lead at the BMW Championship, while Indian-origin golfer Akshay Bhatia also made a strong start with a three-under 67 at Bellerive Country Club.
McIlroy finished alongside fellow US Open champions Gary Woodland and Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun and Chris Gotterup at six-under. Matt Fitzpatrick was one stroke further back at five-under.
Bhatia’s 67 placed him tied 12th, while Aaron Rai carded a two-under 68 to sit tied 21st. Sahith Theegala opened with a one-over 71 and was tied 37th.
The BMW Championship, the second event of the FedExCup Playoffs, features only 50 players, making every position crucial in the battle to finish inside the top 30 and qualify for the season-ending TOUR Championship.
McIlroy’s opening round was particularly encouraging after a difficult week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. The four-time major champion had returned from a four-week break following The Open but failed to break par in any of his four rounds at the playoff opener. He subsequently worked on his swing with coach Michael Bannon after returning to Florida.
The changes appeared to pay immediate dividends as McIlroy consistently found fairways and greens and avoided dropping a shot.
Woodland, meanwhile, produced one of the day’s most notable rounds. The 2019 US Open champion, who has been attempting to secure a place in the TOUR Championship following brain surgery, began the week 31st in the FedExCup standings.
He holed out with a sand wedge from 99 yards for an eagle on the 11th and later hit a 2-iron from 286 yards on the par-five 17th to set up a birdie, finishing with a 64.
Clark closed strongly, making five birdies over his final six holes to join the leaders, while Spaun also reached six-under after returning to the putter he used during his US Open victory at Oakmont.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler endured a contrasting opening day. After winning the FedExCup opener by eight strokes, Scheffler carded a two-over 72, his highest opening-round score since the US Open in June. He said he was feeling unwell and left the locker room without speaking further.
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