Rory McIlroy shook off last week’s difficulties and birdied four of his final six holes to earn a share of the first-round lead at the BMW Championship on Thursday at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.
The six-time major champion from Northern Ireland signed for a 6-under-par 64, tied with Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun and Chris Gotterup at day’s end.
Ryo Hisatsune of Japan and Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick were one stroke back at 5-under 65. Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, Alex Fitzpatrick of England and Michael Thorbjornsen carded 4-under 66, while Jacob Bridgeman was also 4 under with one hole to go as play wound down.
The top 50 players in the points standings following the FedEx St. Jude Championship qualified for the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs. McIlroy’s position was never in doubt as he began the playoffs in 12th, but he struggled mightily at the St. Jude and finished 8 over par, 66th out of 68 golfers.
He brushed that off with a bogey-free round Thursday that really heated up once he sank a 7-foot birdie putt at the par-3 13th. He stuck his approach at No. 15 inside 5 feet to convert another birdie, he two-putted for birdie at the par-5 17th and he curled in a right-to-left 10-footer at No. 18 to join the leading group.
Woodland is in the opposite position as McIlroy. At No. 31 in the standings to start this week, he has everything to play for, as only the top 30 after Sunday qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship next week.
After he made four birdies on the front nine, Woodland’s highlight was a hole-out eagle at the par-4 11th. He moved to 7 under at No. 17 but gave that stroke back with his only bogey of the day at No. 18.
Clark also posted a bogey-free round similar to McIlroy’s, as the U.S. Open champion birdied five of the final six holes. Spaun had seven birdies through 17 holes early in the day before a closing bogey, and Gotterup joined the group as play wrapped up after making three birdies on each side.
World No. 1 and FedEx Cup leader Scottie Scheffler struggled to a 2-over 72 to open his week after winning the St. Jude by eight strokes on Sunday. Scheffler is tied for 44th out of 50. There is no 36-hole cut.
