– Viktor Hovland (-11) is the leader of the BMW PGA Championship midway through the second round at Wentworth. The sigh of relief from Luke Donald was heard in Bethpage. Golf is very tricky, and the fact that the Norwegian is playing well this week in London doesn’t mean he will do just as well in the Ryder Cup. In any case, among Europe’s pillars, he was the one arriving with the most risk of suffering aluminosis, and so far this week, there’s not even a hint of it. Quite the opposite. He looks powerful and focused, silencing the most sceptical. Because there are sceptics. There were even voices doubting whether he should be chosen. For now, it’s the best news of the week. Just one bogey in 36 holes and an eagle to finish Thursday and Friday.
– And looking on the bright side of things, it’s even good that the Ryder man playing the best is precisely the one who shared the round on Thursday and Friday with a Rasmus Hojgaard (+5) who hasn’t had things go well at all. It’s not easy playing under everyone’s scrutiny, and it seems the Dane has felt the pressure. He leaves the BMW PGA Championship early, but at least he’s seen how sharp his teammate is. Surely it will serve as extra motivation to double down on work this weekend before heading to Bethpage on Monday and Tuesday.
– Continuing with the Ryder Cup, the star match was formed by Rory McIlroy (-3), Shane Lowry (-3), and Jon Rahm (-4). None of them have been outstanding. In fact, we could say they have been far from their best version. The good thing is they manage to find a way to score and will have two more days to keep fine-tuning. McIlroy has been very inconsistent, erratic, mainly supported by his short game and putting. Lowry, the same, a mix of good and bad. Meanwhile, Jon has once again shown he has endless resources. He has been weak the first two days with the irons and around the green. The best thing he did today was putting, and he wasn’t bad off the tee, although there were a couple of serious misses on holes 11 and 18. Perhaps the most concerning thing, which he needs to resolve urgently, is the matter of approach shots. Without being bad, he’s not managing to leave himself the right birdie opportunities, especially considering the course is receptive. Be that as it may, both McIlroy and Rahm always manage to stay competitive.
– Hovland has a one-shot lead over Pablo Larrazábal (-10). The Barcelona native has activated the scare mode. You know, what he always likes to say when he’s playing well, stalking the top of the tournaments. He has 13 birdies in two days and has put himself in a position he hasn’t been in for six months, specifically since the Hero Indian Open. He missed it, and we all missed it.
– Two shots behind Hovland are Alex Noren (-9), the brilliant vice-captain of the European team, owner of the course record at Wentworth, and recent winner on the DP World Tour. Watch out for the Swede. Alongside him is Richie Ramsay (-9), one who usually plays well on this London course, and a step further back is Adrien Saddier (-8), who was in the star match a week ago. In this regard, if we talk about form states, there’s also Marco Penge (-7), who keeps playing well, and Joakim Lagergren (-7), who lost in the playoff against Rory McIlroy last Sunday.
– Regarding the Ryder Cup players, Tyrrell Hatton (-5) and Robert MacIntyre (-2) have also secured the cut, although they will need a great weekend. So far, only Rasmus Hojgaard is out, and Fleetwood is currently fighting on the course to play all four days.
– Finally, the report on the Spanish players, beyond Larrazábal and Rahm: Jorge Campillo (-2), Ángel Ayora (-2), and Nacho Elvira (-2) should make the cut unless a lot of birdies start being made at Wentworth (it started raining shortly after four in the afternoon, Spanish time). Much credit to Campillo and Ayora, who finished with two birdies on 17 and 18 when they were on the brink. Alfredo García Heredia (PAR), Alex del Rey (+1), Manu Elvira (+1), and Iván Cantero (+7) are out.
