Scott in ‘great shape’ to win prestigious Euro event

By Ian Chadband

Adam Scott says he’s in “great shape” to launch a weekend assault on winning the flagship European Tour event that he believes is one of the seven biggest tournaments in golf.

Looking in fine fettle on the famed Wentworth course on the south-western fringes of London on Friday, the veteran Australian shot a second successive five-under par round of 67 to lie tied for second, just two shots off the lead at halfway in the BMW PGA Championship.

American Ryan Gerard led the way at 12 under after a bogey-free 65, but Scott remained delighted with his form on Wentworth’s tough West Course as he lay in striking distance at 10-under alongside Italian Filiippo Celli, who fired a 66.

Dangers remained everywhere with PGA champion Aaron Rai just a shot further back after his 69 alongside Spain’s Manuel Elvira (66), while Masters champion Rory Mcilroy (67), New Zealand’s British Open winner Ryan Fox (68) and 2025 US Open winner JJ Spaun (66) were among five players on eight-under.

Scott could hardly sound more enthused about his efforts as he enjoyed a sparkling spell of eight birdies in the space of 10 holes in the heart of his round that took him to the top of the clubhouse leaderboard for a while until Gerard’s spectacular eagle-birdie finish.

Three bogeys ended up balancing out Scott’s hot run, but the 46-year-old remained buoyed as he eyed the prospect of winning his first four-round tournament in six years.

And not just any tournament. “Let’s put the majors aside for a second, but this has been top-three on my list outside of the major championships,” Scott explained.

“I think of the Players Championship, and probably the Aussie Open, and then this one sits right up there. It’s an incredible event.

“The atmosphere is amazing, and the course is just a great challenge as well.

“It took me a couple holes to kind of find the rhythm today, certainly on the greens anyway. Then I got going.

“Happy to make a bunch of birdies. I’ll have to accept a few bogeys, but I’m in great shape going into the weekend.”

“I’ve had a couple of easy weeks. I felt a little bit underdone, probably golf-wise, coming in here, but at least fresh mentally, and that’s been good for me for the last couple of days.”

In the battle for the European Tour’s ‘Race to Dubai’ Order of Merit crown, leader Patrick Reed had to retire with a hand injury while struggling at nine-over in his second round – and that’s opened the door to his nearest pursuer, McIlroy.

“Unfortunately he’s pulled out, which gives me an opportunity to try to claw back some ground that I lost last week in Ireland,” said the world No.2.

“This weekend is a big weekend for me to pick up a few points and make the race even tighter going into these last few weeks.”

There were some surprise casualties, though. Tommy Fleetwood missed the cut at three over, while two-time major winner Jon Rahm finished dead last in the field at 11-over – the first time that indignity has befallen him – after adding a 77 to his first-round 78. It was the worst 36-hole total of the Spaniard’s career.