Full Breakdown
McIlroy Shares Lead After Bogey-Free 64 at BMW Championship
8/21/2026, 7:48:12 AM
Opening Round Highlights (August 20, 2026)
On Thursday, August 20, 2026, the first round of the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis ended in a five-way tie at six-under par. Rory McIlroy posted a 64, matching U.S. Open champions Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun and Chris Gotterup. Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune was one stroke behind at five-under, while England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and several others were at four-under. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a 72 (+2) and fell to a tie for 44th of the 50-player field.
Recent Form Leading Into Bellerive
The week before, McIlroy finished 66th at the FedEx St. Jude Championship after a four-week break following the Open. He called that round “sloppy” and said he felt “lost.” Scheffler captured an eight-shot victory at St. Jude, posting a 66 (-8) to solidify his FedEx Cup lead.
Key Numbers from Round 1
- Score 64 (-6) – McIlroy, Woodland, Clark, Spaun, Gotterup.
- Score 65 (-5) – Ryo Hisatsune, Matt Fitzpatrick.
- Score 66 (-4) – Alex Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Åberg, Michael Thorbjornsen, Jacob Bridgeman.
- Scheffler’s 72 (+2) placed him tied for 44th, six strokes behind the leaders.
- The top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings after this round will advance to the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Official Statements & Responses
McIlroy credited swing coach Michael Bannon and caddie Harry Diamond, saying he felt “back on the right path” and that Bellerive’s “big, long” layout suited his game better than Memphis.
Woodland highlighted his 99-yard eagle on the 11th hole, calling the shot a “bonus” that helped set an early target.
Scheffler did not speak to media after his round.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I went home and I worked on a few things and at least got myself back in a frame of mind where like I felt like I’m at least back on the right path of what I’m doing with my game and with my swing,” — Rory McIlroy
- “It’s my style of golf course. I do well on these golf courses,” — Rory McIlroy
- “I can promise you East Lake wasn’t on my mind to start the year,” — Gary Woodland
Implications for the FedEx Cup Playoffs
McIlroy’s six-under round secured his spot in the upcoming Tour Championship, as he was already inside the top-30 of the FedEx Cup points race. The shared lead also positions the four U.S. Open champions as early contenders for the $10 million FedEx Cup prize. Scheffler’s two-over start, while unlikely to jeopardize his qualification, adds pressure for a stronger round two if he hopes to contend for the playoff title.
The five-way tie underscores the tightly contested nature of the penultimate playoff event, with each leader needing consistency over the remaining rounds to shape the final Tour Championship field.
