Scott and Fox remain close to BMW PGA lead
Ryan Gerard – image Getty Images
A brilliant mid-round surge by Adam Scott during his second round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf and Country Club in Surrey to the west of London will see the Queenslander enter the weekend just two off the halfway lead held by American Ryan Gerard (pictured).
Beginning his second round at the 9th hole (caused by the logistics of accessing the 10th tee), Scott parred his first four holes before a bogey at his 5th hole had him one over for the day, but he would then unleash a run of eight birdies over the next ten holes to take the lead at 11 under par before a bogey at his 17th hole saw him finish with a second consecutive round of 67.
Scott played early on day two, and when he finished his round he was tied in the lead with Italian Filippo Celli, and it would not be until Gerard finished his round of 65 late in the day that the American would take a two-shot lead through 36 holes.
Understandably, Scott was delighted with his game and his position in the tournament.
I’m really pleased with it, actually,” said the 46-year-old, playing in his 11th BMW PGA Championship. “Early start, a quick turnaround. Took me a couple holes to kind of find the rhythm, certainly on the greens, anyway. Then I got going. Made a bunch of birdies, a few bogeys and in great shape going into the weekend.”
Scott was asked how the energy levels were holding up given a big end to the PGA Tour season.
“I feel all right, but you have to really understand that it’s getting late in the year. We played a big month to finish the FedExCup in the States. You want to be ready for a big event like this, too. I’ve had a couple of easy weeks. I felt a little underdone, probably, golf-wise coming in here, but at least fresh mentally, and I think that’s been good for me the last couple of days.
“This is one of the special events in the world. We have these major championships, and of course everyone recognises them and rates them so highly, but this sits very close to that level. I think there are so many things going for it from the golf course, but the atmosphere they create, the fans, the amphitheatre around 18, I think it’s a special, special feeling coming up there later on a Sunday. It feels like a big championship, and I’d dearly love to be in with a chance on Sunday.”
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox followed up his good start yesterday with a second consecutive round of 68 to be just four from the lead and in a share of 6th place alongside his playing partner Rory McIlory and three others. The other member of their trio, Aaron Rai, is at 9 under and just three from the lead.
Gerard has had a big year on the PGA Tour, improving from 44th to 21st in the world ranking, and although he has not won in 2026, there have been some very impressive results, including a 3rd place at the Tour Championship in August and three runner-up finishes, including at the Memorial Tournament.
“I think the course looks very similar to courses that I’ve grown up on, and I feel very comfortable with a lot of the tee shots and angles and things like that,” said the 27-year-old.
“So you know, it’s a golf tournament that you have to be prepared to play. Our job is to be prepared for that week, and I feel like the first year is kind of difficult sometimes, but second year, you should be ready to go. So I did a lot of prep last year, did some more this year, had a really good understanding of the wind and where the pins are and how some of the greens like to shape and slope and where you don’t want to be.
I’ve done a really good job of just staying patient and executing good golf shots up until this point, and hopefully more this weekend.
New Zealander Daniel Hillier is in 49th place at 3 under while Kazuma Kobori is in 64th place and on the cut line.
Fellow Australasians, David Micheluzzi, Jason Scrivener and Elvis Smylie missed out on the weekend.
