The popular Englishman finds himself just one stroke off the pace with two rounds to play on the famous Wentworth West Course<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama currently leads the way on 12-under par – and incredibly on his BMW PGA<\/a> debut.<\/p>\n The former Masters champon fired a stunning 64 on Friday to move one shot clear of European Ryder Cup trio Rose, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n But back to the top of the story and Rose’s comments surrounding the Ryder Cup, which of course takes place at Bethpage Black in New York in two weeks.<\/p>\n Eleven of the 12 European Ryder Cup players on Luke Donald’s team are in action this week.<\/p>\n The only absentee is Sepp Straka, who remains on the sidelines due to “personal issues”.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rose, who captured his 12th PGA Tour title at the FedEx St Jude Championship to earn his automatic spot on Donald’s side last month, believes members of the team who are in contention after two rounds at Wentworth will still be fully focused on winning the BMW PGA this Sunday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n But he also considers members of Donald’s team who find themselves further down the board will likely now be thinking about the Ryder Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Rose is in contention at the BMW PGA<\/p>\n Two high-profile members of the 2025 European Ryder Cup team who have surprisingly struggled over the first two rounds in Virginia Water are pre-tournament favourites Rahm<\/a> and McIlroy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rahm finds himself in a tie for 35th on 4-under par and eight shots behind Matsuyama heading into Saturday’s third round, while McIlroy fares a shot worse on 3-under par in a tie for 44th.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rose made his feelings about the BMW PGA and Ryder Cup be known when speaking to a pool of reporters after Friday’s second round.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It would mean a lot [to win the BMW PGA],” said Rose.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n “I can’t deny it, I can’t hide from it.”<\/p>\n “Although this week, to be honest, I think with the Ryder Cup around the corner, there’s sort of like — yeah listen, I was straight into this tournament.<\/p>\n “I said at the beginning of the week that if you get into contention this week, it becomes all about this week and this weekend will be all about this tournament.<\/p>\n “If you’re in the middle of the pack, you might start thinking about Bethpage and what-have-you.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n “But yeah, I’ve got a great weekend ahead of me. I mean, we’ve got more choppy weather coming in, so it’s going to be a little bit of see what happens out there, to be honest with you, but I’m feeling comfortable.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n “I think stay aggressive, I guess, because even though the course feels like it’s playing tough, opposite the scoreboard wouldn’t suggest.<\/p>\n “So yeah, hammer down.”<\/p>\n McIlroy is well off the pace at Wentworth<\/p>\n McIlroy endured a rollercoaster second round where he began with three straight bogeys from the 3rd hole.<\/p>\n He then rallied with five birdies in the space of seven holes from around the turn to haul himself back into contention.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n But he then ended the day similarly to how he started it with a disastrous double-bogey seven on the par-5 18th.<\/p>\n It all added up to a level 72.\u00a0<\/p>\n BMW PGA R2: How are the Ryder Cup players getting on?<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Ludvig Aberg<\/p>\n -11<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Justin Rose<\/p>\n -11<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Viktor Hovland<\/p>\n -11<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Matt Fitzpatrick<\/p>\n -7<\/p>\n 22<\/p>\n Tyrrell Hatton<\/p>\n -5<\/p>\n 35<\/p>\n Jon Rahm<\/p>\n -4<\/p>\n 44<\/p>\n Shane Lowry<\/p>\n -3<\/p>\n 44<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy<\/p>\n -3<\/p>\n 61<\/p>\n Tommy Fleetwood<\/p>\n -2<\/p>\n 61<\/p>\n Robert MacIntyre<\/p>\n -2<\/p>\n MC<\/p>\n Rasmus Hojgaard<\/p>\n +5<\/p>\n VIEW FULL LEADERBOARD<\/a><\/p>\n Rahm has also failed to fire thru 36 holes but he did at least improve on Thursday’s peformance with a 69 to progress to 4-under par.\u00a0<\/p>\n Shane Lowry, who made up the star-studded three-ball, fell back into the chasing pack with a 74 and he looks on from 3-under par alongside McIlroy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n All three players declined media interviews<\/a> after their second round.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rose played the first two rounds alongside Tommy Fleetwood, who birdied the final hole to make the cut on the number at 2-under par.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rasmus Hojgaard was the only Ryder Cup member to miss the cut<\/a> on 5-over par.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jon Rahm<\/p>\n Three players, who were all around the cut mark of 2-under par, will return to finish their second round at 7am on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n![\"Rose](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2025-09-11t112252z_229921163_up1el9b0vm3qd_rtrmadp_3_golf-europe-bmw.JPG\")
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