Rory McIlroy and Brian Harman share lead at BMW Championship after 5-under 65 on day one at Olympia Fields

Rory McIlroy and Brian Harman are joint-leaders on the BMW Championship after a rain-soaked day at Olympia Fields.

McIlroy discovered the brief grass solely six occasions with 18 tee photographs – three of them on par 3s – and nobody would have guessed that taking a look at his card. 

He performed bogey-free for a 5-under 65, giving him a share of the lead with British Open champion Harman within the second FedEx Cup playoff occasion.

‘Solely hitting three fairways at this time and developing with 65 is a little bit of a bonus,’ McIlroy stated.

The greens have been so comfortable from a two-hour rain delay within the morning that McIlroy realized attempting to get at pins was simpler coming from the tough, as a result of the ball would not have as a lot spin.

Rory McIlroy performed a bogey-free for a 5-under 65, giving him a share of the lead on Thursday

‘I am not saying I used to be attempting to purpose for the tough,’ he stated with a smile.

And definitely the spot he discovered himself in on the par-4 seventeenth wasn’t very best. He solely had 116 yards left on the 456-yard gap, however he had a stand of timber blocking his path to the inexperienced, a giant bunker in entrance of the placing floor.

He punched 7-iron by way of a niche within the branches, simply over the bunker, simply over the inexperienced after which chipped in for birdie. It was that form of day.

‘There was a few branches above the window I used to be taking a look at, and I used to be like, `If it hits these, it is simply going to drop down close to that entrance left bunker and I will have an honest angle down the inexperienced and have a 10-footer or much less to save lots of par,’ he stated. 

‘It was a little bit of a hit-and-a-hope. Simply attempting to string that needle. It was both chip it out or take it on. And it is solely Thursday.

‘I assumed, “What the heck? I will take it on and see what occurs.'”

Harman, who returned from his British Open title final week on the FedEx Cup playoff opener with some rust, delivered his pleasure towards the top of the spherical. He holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the par-3 sixteenth, after which chipped in for birdie on the seventeenth.

They have been have been one shot clear of a big group at 66 that included Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sahith Theegala and Rickie Fowler, a very good begin for various causes.

Brian Harman additionally shot a 5-under 65 to co-lead the chasing pack with McIlroy in Illinois

Scheffler had one 9 months with out ending worse than twelfth, after which has gone consecutive weeks outdoors the highest 20 as his placing has been a battle. It was good to see them go in for an opportunity. Fowler has an opportunity to earn one of many six computerized spots on the U.S. Ryder Cup group by successful.

As for Fitzpatrick and Theegala, it is all about being among the many prime 30 within the FedEx Cup after this week to advance to the FedEx Cup finale at East Lake.

Fitzpatrick is No. 40 and wishes a very good end to succeed in the Tour Championship and salvage a disappointing yr. Final yr’s U.S. Open champion beat Jordan Spieth in a playoff at Hilton Head, however he has one prime 10 in his final 9 begins that has seen his FedEx Cup standing drop.

Collin Morikawa and Cameron Younger have been amongst these at 67, each attempting to enhance their Ryder Cup inventory. Jon Rahm, two-time defending champion Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth have been at 68. Lucas Glover, going for his third straight victory in as many weeks, shot 70.