Ryan Gerard surged into the lead at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday in Virginia Water, Surrey, England, while Rory McIlroy positioned himself four off the pace and Jon Rahm missed the cut in last place.
Gerard shot the low round of the tournament thus far, a 7-under-par 65, to reach 12 under at Wentworth Club. He’s two in front of Australian Adam Scott (67) and Italian Filippo Celli (66), while Englishman Aaron Rai (69) and Spaniard Manuel Elvira (66) are tied for fourth at 9 under.
They’re all looking up at an American, a relative rarity for one of the DP World Tour’s most prestigious events. Billy Horschel won it in both 2021 and 2024, but he is the only American to have captured the title since Arnold Palmer did so in 1975.
“I just love playing golf,” Gerard said. “The DP World Tour is a great tour and we’re lucky to have fantastic events like this one that I can come play in what would technically be the offseason on the PGA Tour.
“I just enjoy playing golf. There’s a lot of really awesome places outside of the United States that we don’t get to go to very often. To be lucky enough to come over here to Wentworth and also go to France next week, other events on the schedule, it’s really, really cool that I have that opportunity, and we’re going to take advantage of it.”
Gerard, 27, played like someone with more experience in the United Kingdom, putting together a spotless card amid blustery conditions. He had four birdies through 13 holes, and following a few pars he finished eagle-birdie on Wentworth’s consecutive par-5 closing holes. His eagle came on a 20-foot putt.
“I don’t know if I was feeling eagle-birdie finish but stayed patient all day,” said Gerard, who has one PGA Tour win to his name. “You know when you get to the last couple holes at Wentworth here, they are gettable. There’s also trouble lurking, so you have to be careful. Just felt like we were putting the ball in the right spots all day. Good things happen when you stick to the plan and execute shots.”
Scott, who at 46 is older than most of the field, has outscored almost everyone thanks to two birdie bursts on Friday. He had four birdies and one bogey over the first five holes, and he made four in a row from Nos. 14-17.
“This event — let’s put the majors aside for a second — but this certainly is kind of top three on my list outside of major championships,” Scott said. “I think of The Players Championship, probably the Aussie Open, and then this one is right there. It’s an incredible event. The atmosphere is amazing, and the course is just a great challenge, as well.”
The low Englishman happens to be Rai, who could win both the United States’ PGA Championship (his first career major) and the BMW PGA in the same year. Rai was a co-leader after 18 holes and remains in the mix.
“I try not to look too much at leaderboards at the end of the first day, second day,” said Rai, who played his first two rounds with fellow 2026 major winners McIlroy and Ryan Fox of New Zealand. “A lot can happen. I didn’t feel a certain way sleeping overnight on the lead.”
As for McIlroy, he followed an opening 69 with a 5-under 67 on Friday to join a tie at 8 under that also features Fox (68), J.J. Spaun (66), England’s Ross Fisher (67) and Spain’s Nacho Elvira (69).
McIlroy’s lone win in this event came in 2014, when the Northern Irishman fended off his friend Shane Lowry by one shot. He recorded seven birdies on Friday against two bogeys.
“I think I’m in a great spot heading into the weekend,” McIlroy said. “Playing a bit better today than I did yesterday. I hit a lot more fairways. Felt like I drove the ball better. Gave myself a few more chances. Didn’t feel like I was scrambling my way around most of the day today. Solid round and I’m in a good spot heading into the last two days.”
Excluding six players who withdrew at some point over the first two days, Rahm finished dead last among the 138 players who completed 36 holes. The Spaniard followed Thursday’s 78 with a 77 to end up 11 over par, 13 shots below the cut line.
Rahm, who is facing a monumental decision whether to stick with LIV Golf without its Saudi financing or try to forge a way back to the PGA Tour, had five bogeys and one double bogey Friday while managing birdies at two par-5s.
