News that McIlroy had taken only 60 shots around Wentworth’s West Course while in the company of celebrities was a hot topic of conversation going in to this PGA Championship. McIlroy shrugged off the score as something he produces fairly regularly. The 31-year-old may be a major champion on account of heroics in this year’s US PGA Championship but he admitted to trepidation about playing in McIlroy’s company at Wentworth.
Not that Rai displayed any sense of fear; his 66 outscored McIlroy by three. Ryan Fox, the other member of this illustrious group, signed for a 68. Day one honours belonged to the popular Rai.
It’s an amazing experience to be playing with the likes of Rory. Obviously it’s really amazing to be out there with Ryan and Rory. I am just really pleased that I got into the round pretty fast and that I continued to play well.
I used to come here as a junior and watch the event and absolutely love it. I’ve started to play really well here over the last three or four years or so. So it’s a place that I enjoy and it’s always good coming here.” Indeed, Rai’s score tied the early lead with Joakim Lagergren.
The lead is one from Ryan Gerard and Adam Scott. McIlroy remains in the middle of technical changes as he seeks to remove bad habits from his swing. Patrick Reed’s 68 was significant as he looks to hold off McIlroy in the DP World Tour’s season-long order of merit.
Reed and McIlroy have jousted in plenty of environments before, yet on this occasion the American insists it is not personal. He’s been a champion a ton of times and he’s one of those guys that if you go up against the best, you’re going to have to take him and Scottie [Scheffler] on. To have the opportunity to take him on throughout the whole rest of the year is going to be fun.” Reed insisted if he denies McIlroy what would be a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, he will only be delaying the inevitable.
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