Ryder Cup trio Justin Rose, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg are all in competition on the midway stage of the BMW PGA Championship, the place Hideki Matsuyama grabbed the lead at Wentworth.
Eleven of Luke Donald’s Europe group heading to Bethpage Black later this month characteristic within the DP World Tour’s flagship occasion forward of attempting to regain the Ryder Cup in New York, stay from September 26-28 on Sky Sports.
Hovland set the preliminary clubhouse goal at 11 beneath after closing his sensible bogey-free second spherical with a 45-foot eagle on the par-five final, just for Rose to maneuver alongside him after matching the Norwegian’s 66.
Åberg briefly held the outright benefit till a bogey on the par-five seventeenth, the place Matsuyama chipped in for eagle on his solution to a eight-under 64 and a one-shot lead on 12 beneath.
Ryder Cup vice-captain Alex Noren – the 2017 champion – is inside 4 of the midway lead and Matt Fitzpatrick heads into the weekend on seven beneath, whereas 2020 BMW PGA champion Tyrrell Hatton is eight strokes again and LIV Golf teammate Jon Rahm is an extra shot adrift.
World No 2 Rory McIlroy recovered from three early bogeys to card 5 birdies in a seven-hole stretch across the flip, briefly placing him inside three of the leaders, just for a final-hole double bogey to drop him again to a few beneath alongside Shane Lowry.
Ten of Crew Europe have made it via to the weekend, as Robert MacIntyre and Tommy Fleetwood snuck via on the cut-mark, with Rasmus Hojgaard the one one among Donald’s aspect to make an early exit after rounds of 74 and 75.
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Rory McIlroy shot a level-par 72 throughout his second spherical of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth
Matsuyama the person to catch at Wentworth
Matsuyama – enjoying alongside Aberg and Fitzpatrick in a rain afternoon wave – was 4 strokes again after the opening day however rapidly moved up the leaderboard by following a front-nine 31 with three birdies in 4 holes from the eleventh.
He cancelled out a bogey on the fifteenth by chipping in for eagle on the seventeenth, the place Åberg three-putted from 20 toes for bogey to fall one behind forward of each gamers having to accept par on the final.
Åberg held the midway lead within the 2023 contest earlier than ending tied-Tenth
“I felt like I scored really well, on a tricky day on a tricky golf course,” Åberg informed Sky Sports activities. “I feel like I managed it in a good way in a positive way and it was a good day for sure.”
Rose, enjoying within the group forward, produced a birdie-birdie end to additionally get to 11 beneath, whereas Hovland was the very best of the morning starters after card an eagle in 4 birdies throughout his 66.
Viktor Hovland has carded rounds of 67 and 66 over the primary two days on the BMW PGA Championship
“I hit the ball much, much better today, especially the first or seven or eight holes,” Rose – who combined eight birdies with two bogeys – informed Sky Sports activities. “I really felt like I was in a nice groove there.
“Felt my focus start to wander in the direction of the top of the spherical, however that bogey [16] made me not less than attempt to refocus. Poor tee shot and poor second shot on 17, however acquired away with these then good two good swings on the final.”
Who will win the BMW PGA Championship? Watch throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports Golf. Live coverage continues with Featured Groups from 8.30am on Saturday ahead of full coverage from midday. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
