(Photo credit score: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)
Rory McIlroy shook off final week’s difficulties and birdied 4 of his ultimate six holes to earn a share of the first-round lead on the BMW Championship on Thursday at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.
The six-time main 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 finish.
Ryo Hisatsune of Japan and Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick have been one stroke again at 5-under 65. Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, Alex Fitzpatrick of England and Michael Thorbjornsen carded 4-under 66, whereas Jacob Bridgeman was additionally 4 beneath with one gap to go as play wound down.
The prime 50 gamers within the factors standings following the FedEx St. Jude Championship certified for the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs. McIlroy’s place was by no means doubtful as he started the playoffs in twelfth, however he struggled mightily on the St. Jude and completed 8 over par, 66th out of 68 golfers.
He brushed that off with a bogey-free spherical Thursday that actually heated up as soon as he sank a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-3 thirteenth. He caught his method at No. 15 inside 5 toes to transform one other birdie, he two-putted for birdie on the par-5 seventeenth and he curled in a right-to-left 10-footer at No. 18 to hitch the main group.
Woodland is within the reverse place as McIlroy. At No. 31 within the standings to begin this week, he has every thing to play for, as solely the highest 30 after Sunday qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship subsequent week.
After he made 4 birdies on the entrance 9, Woodland’s spotlight was a hole-out eagle on the par-4 eleventh. He moved to 7 beneath at No. 17 however gave that stroke again together with his solely bogey of the day at No. 18.
Clark additionally posted a bogey-free spherical just like McIlroy’s, because the U.S. Open champion birdied 5 of the ultimate six holes. Spaun had seven birdies via 17 holes early within the day earlier than a closing bogey, and Gotterup joined the group as play wrapped up after making three birdies on either side.
World No. 1 and FedEx Cup chief Scottie Scheffler struggled to a 2-over 72 to open his week after profitable the St. Jude by eight strokes on Sunday. Scheffler is tied for forty fourth out of fifty. There is not any 36-hole minimize.
–Field Level Media