Ludvig Åberg and Tom Vaillant both fired stunning 8-under 64s to share the lead after the opening day of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The tournament, already affected by weather delays, saw intense competition as players battled to make their mark.

Key Highlights:

• Ludvig Åberg, a captain's pick for the European Ryder Cup team, overcame an early bogey to card a flawless round, including four birdies on the front nine and a strong finish with three consecutive birdies.
• Tom Vaillant matched Åberg's score, showcasing his precision and consistency throughout the round.
• Rory McIlroy, fresh off his Irish Open victory, struggled on the final hole, hitting his approach into the water and settling for a bogey. He finished the day with a 69, five shots behind the leaders.

Other Notable Performances:

• Casey Jarvis sits alone in third place, just one shot off the lead.
• Matt Fitzpatrick, another Ryder Cup pick, carded a 66, while Justin Rose and Shane Lowry are a shot further back.
• Jon Rahm, the former world No. 1, finished with a 71 after a late surge of three birdies in the final four holes.

Weather Impact:

Play was suspended due to darkness at 7:30 p.m., with Thursday's late starters set to complete their opening rounds on Friday morning. A 90-minute weather delay earlier in the afternoon disrupted the schedule.

Ryder Cup Presence:

Nearly all members of Europe's Ryder Cup team are competing at Wentworth, with Sepp Straka absent as he remains at home with his wife, who recently gave birth prematurely.

The BMW PGA Championship continues to deliver thrilling moments, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of golf.