MacIntyre opens BMW Championship with 62 to lead

MacIntyre takes the early lead as Scheffler and McIlroy chase in the opening round at Caves Valley.

MacIntyre Leads BMW Championship After First Round

Robert MacIntyre shot an 8 under 62 to grab the first round lead at the BMW Championship, closing with a burst of birdies on the back nine. He moved past a morning wave that included Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood as the late finishers climbed the board. Rory McIlroy had a rough start but recovered to an even par 70, while Fleetwood matched him with a 65 to sit within striking distance.

Play was interrupted by a weather delay, and when the storm cleared the course played softer. MacIntyre seized the change in conditions, rolling in long putts and converting the closing stretch into a cushion. Scheffler, who started strong, closed with a string of pars after the delay and remains a major threat as the field tightens. McIlroy, who began with trouble, steadied but fell short of the day’s standout score, leaving him in chasing mode as the weekend approaches.

The BMW Championship often boils down to a few decisive shots, and MacIntyre showed that on Thursday. His hot putter and a confident finish gave him a clear cushion, but the real test will be whether he can sustain that momentum under pressure from a familiar crop of contenders. The rain delay reshaped the dynamics, with softer greens usually favoring those who can read breaks and dial in pace on the back nine. Scheffler remains the default favorite given his consistency, yet Thursday proved that even the best can be toppled by a weather shuffle and a quick run of birdies.

McIlroy’s blunt assessment of his start — calling it awful — underscored the mental side of a sport where early mistakes compound when the field is this deep. He will need to translate big rounds into weekend resilience by tightening fairways and dialing in his approach shots. Fleetwood’s ball striking and greens work keep him in the mix, suggesting this week could hinge on who handles the course’s quirks and the late surge of scoring opportunities most cleanly.

Highlights

The race for the weekend will test nerves as much as strokes.