Adam Scott is finding form at the right time ahead of next week’s Presidents Cup as the Australian veteran sits one shot off the lead after the first round of the DP World Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in England.

This year’s US PGA Championship Aaron Rai outshone Masters champion Rory McIlroy – in a star-studded group that also included Open champion Ryan Fox – to share the lead with Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren courtesy of a six-under par 66.

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Scott shares third place with American Ryan Gerard, Swedish Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg and Spain’s Nacho Elvira following his five-under par 67.

“Yeah, I played really, really solid. I would say for sure one of my best rounds, tee to green this year,” Scott, who will play in a record 12th Presidents Cup next week in Chicago, said.

“Not really sure why, just a nice tee shot off the first, kind of calmed any nerves and then went about my business from there. It’s a nice way to play Wentworth when there’s low stress. So three to go.

“I mean, a bit more of that kind of golf would be fantastic, but I know I’m going to have to dig deep to hang in there this week.”

Adam Scott of Australia acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green on day one of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on September 17, 2026 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

The 46-year-old made six birdies on Thursday as he led the 144-player field in driving accuracy, operating at 92.9 per cent.

He attracted a strong gallery following him in the afternoon field – who undoubtedly dealt with the worst of the conditions on a windy, drizzly day.

Scott treated them to his shot of the day with a pin-seeker from 200 yards at the par 5 18th – although he missed the eagle putt from inside six feet that would have put him in a share of the lead.

“Yeah, it’s a nice way to finish. It would have been great to make the putt, but it was a bit of a bit of a slider and I kind of hit it a bit too weak,” Scott said.

“But, you know, keep making swings like that. Like I said, the opportunities will come. I can take a few. And, you know, to be in the mix here on Sunday would be so fantastic. It’s one of my favourite events. Love being here. So I’d love to have a shot at it.”

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McIlroy, who shot 60 in Wednesday’s pro-am, started with another blitz of birdies to get to five-under through 10 but fell back to three under with three bogeys in his final five holes.

“I wish it was on a Thursday and not on a Wednesday. But yeah, look, I played well,” the Wentworth local said of his pro-am effort.

“Again, like I think any time you play like that, whether it’s in practice or a competitive round, you have to take some confidence from it. I saw some putts going in. I felt better with the putter than I did last week.

“I brought that feeling for the most part into today and a bit disappointed with the way I finished. But still a good score to build on and some very good signs in the game.”

Rai was the pick of the bunch from the marquee group as he picked up six birdies alongside just one bogey at 16.

“Really good start,” said the Englishman. “I felt like I got into the round fast and got a couple of birdies early on and continued to just play well throughout the round and keep the momentum going when I was out of position.”

New Zealand’s Fox is among the pack two shots off the lead alongside European Ryder Cup winners Bob MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland.

Fresh from his heroics on home soil at the Irish Open last week, Shane Lowry carded a 71.

Jon Rahm had a nightmare start as a six-over par round of 78 leaves the Spaniard battling to make the cut.

Fellow LIV golfer and Australian rising star Elvis Smylie has made his return to tournament golf this week after a three-month lay-off due to a rib injury.

The 24-year-old left-hander shot a three-over par 75.