VIRGINIA WATER, UK — Ryan Gerard finished eagle-birdie to shoot a 7-under 65 on Friday and take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the BMW PGA Championship, which will not feature Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood or Jon Rahm over the weekend.
The No. 21-ranked Gerard moved to 12-under for the week at the flagship event on the European tour, showing the kind of form that would serve the US team well at the upcoming Presidents Cup.
The issue for the Americans is that Gerard wasn’t picked by captain Brandt Snedeker for the 12-man roster.
Adam Scott (67) and Filippo Cello (66) were among the morning starters and set the clubhouse target that only Gerard surpassed. US PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai (69) and Manuel Elvira (66) were tied for fourth place a further shot back.
At the other end of the scoring — in last place of the 138 players to complete 36 holes — was Rahm, whose 78-77 left him on 11 over, 23 shots behind Gerard in what might rank as the worst of the Spaniard’s 228 tournaments as a professional.
Rahm’s 6-over 78 in the first round on Thursday was his highest score in a non-major since a 78 in the opening round of the Andalucia Masters in 2021. A day later, he hit his first shot — a drive at No. 9 — into a bunker and went on to make five bogeys and a double on the way to his 77.
The two-time major champion, who finished tied for 23rd at the Irish Open on Sunday, is one of the biggest stars in LIV Golf, the breakaway circuit that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week with debts of more than $500 million. Rahm was among the leading four creditors listed in the filing.
No. 8-ranked Fleetwood missed the cut, too after shooting 74 following an opening 73.
Reed, the leader of the Race to Dubai ranking ahead of Rory McIlroy, won’t be around at the weekend for another reason.
The American was forced to retire with an apparent hand injury midway through the second round.
