Rai shares Wentworth lead as McIlroy stumbles late

Aaron Rai delivered a near-flawless opening round at the BMW PGA Championship, carding seven birdies against a single bogey for a six-under 66 that put him level at the top with Sweden's Joakim Lagergren. Rai, who claimed his first major title earlier this season, dropped his only shot on the 16th after finding a fairway bunker off the tee. Lagergren, still searching for a second DP World Tour title after his sole win in 2018, matched Rai's total thanks largely to an eagle on the 12th.

Rory McIlroy, a six-time major champion, produced a scintillating start to reach five under through 10 holes and briefly held the outright lead on a course he had played in 60 shots during Wednesday's pro-am. His driving turned erratic on the back nine, however, and three bogeys in his final seven holes - including one after finding water on the penultimate hole - dropped him to three under, three shots behind the leaders.

Chasing pack

A group at five under includes American Ryan Gerard, Australia's Adam Scott, Spain's Nacho Elvira and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg. Twelve players sit at four under, among them Patrick Reed, currently the only golfer ahead of McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings. Reed is attempting to become just the second American, after Collin Morikawa, to win the Race to Dubai title. He shares his position with Open champion Ryan Fox, Norway's Viktor Hovland and Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, who finished strongly with birdies on his last two holes.

It proved a tougher day for two-time major winner Jon Rahm of Spain, who shot a six-over 78 that included five bogeys and a double bogey. His playing partners, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood, both carded five back-nine birdies to finish at one over after a birdie-free front nine. Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who had earlier voiced reluctance about travelling to Dubai for November's season finale, finished level par alongside his younger brother Alex.