Sep 11, 2025, 05:28 PM ET<\/p>\n
VIRGINIA WATER, England — Ludvig \u00c5berg<\/a> held a share of the lead and Rory McIlroy<\/a> found the water on the final hole to finish five shots back on the opening day of the weather-affected BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Thursday.<\/p>\n Aberg, a Swede who is a captain’s pick for the European Ryder Cup team that heads to Bethpage Black later this month, shot 8-under 64 to join Tom Vaillant<\/a> atop the leaderboard.<\/p>\n McIlroy, who won the Irish Open in a playoff victory over Joakim Lagergren<\/a> on Sunday, made birdies on the first and fourth holes before a bogey on the par-3 fifth.<\/p>\n Editor’s Picks<\/p>\n 2 Related<\/p>\n The Northern Irishman added birdies on the 10th, 12th and 16th. But he hit his approach at the par-five 18th into the water, settling for a bogey and a first-round 69.<\/p>\n Play was suspended because of darkness at 7:30 p.m., so Thursday’s late starters will have to complete their opening rounds Friday morning. A 90-minute weather delay had disrupted play in the afternoon.<\/p>\n Casey Jarvis<\/a> was alone in third place, one shot off the lead.<\/p>\n Aberg started his day with a bogey at the first hole, but then did not drop a shot, making four birdies on the front nine and two more at the 10th and 12th before ending his round with three birdies.<\/p>\n All but one player from Europe’s Ryder Cup team is at Wentworth. Sepp Straka<\/a> is home with his wife, who recently gave birth prematurely.<\/p>\n Matt Fitzpatrick<\/a> (66), another of Luke Donald<\/a>‘s captain’s picks, was two shots off the lead. Justin Rose<\/a> and Shane Lowry<\/a> were another shot back.<\/p>\n