Rory McIlroy enters BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth after nine-under burst in Pro-Am

Pro-Am form draws an ‘astonishing’ verdict at Wentworth

Rory McIlroy reached nine-under par after 10 holes during the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth, despite opening with two pars, a performance that former DP World Tour player and commentator Tony Johnstone described as astonishing from his account on X. The yardbarker.com account of the round framed the burst as evidence that McIlroy’s swing is in a very good spot heading into tournament play. The 37-year-old Northern Irishman, who last won the Masters in April, will look to convert the practice form into tournament scores starting Thursday at Wentworth Club.

McIlroy installed as the 17/2 favorite at Wentworth

DraftKings odds compiled by CBS Sports list McIlroy at 17/2 to win the 2026 BMW PGA Championship, with Jon Rahm next at 10-1, Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Åberg tied at 12-1, Matt Fitzpatrick at 15-1, and Joaquin Niemann at 16-1. McIlroy sits No. 2 in the Race to Dubai behind a familiar face and arrives with six straight top-20 finishes at Wentworth, including three runner-up results. The yardbarker.com preview notes McIlroy’s length off the tee gives him a huge advantage at the venue, where he won in 2014.

Fleetwood returns, Lowry carries Irish Open momentum

Tommy Fleetwood makes his first start since the Tour Championship, aiming to end a winless PGA Tour campaign at Wentworth, a course where he has yet to record a top-five finish. Shane Lowry, who won the BMW PGA Championship a handful of years ago, arrives after an 11-stroke victory at the Irish Open the prior week, per the CBS Sports preview. Other former champions in the field named by CBS Sports include Francesco Molinari, Danny Willett, Tyrrell Hatton, and the Champion Golfer of the Year Ryan Fox, with Americans Patrick Reed, currently the Race to Dubai leader, and Ryan Gerard also teeing it up.

Tournament frame and defending champion context

The 2026 BMW PGA Championship is scheduled for Sept. 17-20 at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England, playing to a par 72 at 7,267 yards, according to CBS Sports. Alex Noren is the defending champion after claiming his second title at the event last season, shortly before serving as an assistant captain for Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team. McIlroy is keen to win the BMW PGA to enhance his chances of leading the Race to Dubai at season’s end.