BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: WILLETT & RAHM LEAD AS MCILROY SQUEAKS IN FOR THE WEEKEND

Jon Rahm matched Danny Willett’s 65 to share the lead at the half-way stage

Jon Rahm and Danny Willett share a two-shot halfway lead at the BMW PGA Championship, as a star-studded leaderboard – also featuring Justin Rose and Paul Casey among others – sets up a thrilling weekend action at Wentworth.

Played in front of over 20,000 spectators, Willett fired a seven-under-par 65 – equalling the best score this week – which caught fire straight from the off. The 31-year-old former Masters champion was five under through five holes, courtesy of three birdies and an eagle at the fifth, before picking up another shot at the ninth to clear the front nine in just 29. Back-to-back birdies at the 11 and 12 were offset by a bogey at 14 as he moved to 11 under.

Rahm battled back from successive bogeys on the opening two holes with four birdies on the bounce to move to reach the turn in two under. The 24-year-old Spaniard dropped a shot at the tenth, but two more birdies, along with an eagle three at the last put him right in the hunt for a fourth Rolex Series title.

Rose signed for a four-under 68 as he chases a first win at Wentworth, and he was joined on nine under by Henrik Stenson and South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

Casey is two shots further back on seven under, alongside American Billy Horschel, while first round leader Matt Wallace tumbled down the leaderboard with a 76, while Rory McIlroy cut out the mistakes that blighted his first-round 76 as he carded four birdies in a battling 69, closing right on the cut line at one over par.

The post BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: WILLETT & RAHM LEAD AS MCILROY SQUEAKS IN FOR THE WEEKEND appeared first on Golf News.