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Ludvig Åberg and Tom Vaillant share the lead at the BMW PGA Championship on eight under par after the first round at Wentworth Club was suspended due to darkness.
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The United Arab Emirates’ Adrian Otaegui is just three back of the leading duo, after he fired a five under par 67 on Thursday. The 32-year-old is looking for a strong push towards the end of the season to regain his playing rights for 2026, as he is currently ranked 138th in the Race to Dubai Rankings.
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Frenchman Vaillant, who hit the opening tee shot in the first group on the West Course this morning, set the clubhouse target at eight under after firing ten birdies in his round of 64. He made the turn two under and then carded six birdies on his final seven holes.
Heading into the third Rolex Series event of the season 124th on the Race to Dubai Rankings, Vaillant is finding form at the right time. His best result of the season so far came two weeks ago in Switzerland where he finished in a tie for 17th courtesy of scores of 64 and 66 in the third and fourth rounds respectively.
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Åberg, who will make his second Ryder Cup appearance for Team Europe in a fortnight’s time, opened his round with a bogey, but recovered with nine birdies as he joined Vaillant at the top of the leaderboard. Play was suspended for more than an hour due to the threat of lightning as he was playing the 18th hole, but he returned to finish with a birdie – his third in a row to close out his round.
Casey Jarvis was the co-leaders’ nearest challenger on seven under after the South African closed his round with five straight birdies.
Home favourite Matt Fitzpatrick, Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, France’s Antoine Rozner and Swede Joakim Lagergren were another stroke further back.
2014 BMW PGA Championship winner and current Race to Dubai Rankings leader Rory McIlroy, is in a tie for 33rd at three under.
Thursday’s later starters will return to the course to complete their first rounds on Friday morning at 07:45 local time after play was suspended due to darkness at 19.30. There is no change to round two tee times, with the first group teeing off at 06:40.
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