Patrick Reed 'opportunity' as Rory McIlroy picks up boost on and off Wentworth course in Race to Dubai bid
Relaxed Rory McIlroy was handed an unexpected boost in his bid to land a record-equalling eighth DP World Tour Race to Dubai title as Patrick Reed was forced to withdraw from the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Reed, who currently tops the season-long points table from McIlroy, had played nine holes in the second round of the $9 million Rolex Series event, when he called it a day with a wrist injury.
The American, who started the day just two shots off the lead following an opening four-under-par 68, was nine-over-par for his round when he stopped after hitting his drive at the tenth.
Former LIV Golf man Reed, who is now free to resume his PGA Tour career but is deciding to concentrate on the DP World Tour for the time being, started his second circuit at the Surrey venue with a triple-bogey 7. He’d also taken a double-bogey 7 at the fourth and a double-bogey 6 at the eighth as he tumbled down the leaderboard.
The 2018 Masters champion, who has teed up five weeks in a row on the DP World Tour, had already decided to skip next week’s FedEx Open de France at Le Golf National. However, Reed is due to be back in action on this side of the Atlantic in a fortnight’s time at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews.
McIlroy, who is bidding to match Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight Harry Vardon Trophy triumphs, now has a golden chance over the weekend to close the gap on Reed and maybe even leapfrog him. A second win for the Northern Irishman in the DP World Tour’s flagship event would take him to the top of the standings, as would finishing second on Sunday.
During his second round, McIlroy signed autographs for young fans as he waited on one tee and tossed his ball to another youngster displaying a sign asking for that to happen.
McIlroy, the 2014 winner added a 67 to his opening 69 to sit on eight under, tied for sixth as American Ryan Gerard reached the halfway stage with a two-shot lead on 12 under.
Commenting on Reed’s retiral, McIlroy said: “Unfortunately, he's pulled out this week, which gives me an opportunity to try to claw back some ground that I lost last week in Ireland.
"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.”
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin’s strong start to Europe’s Ryder Cup qualifying campaign ended as he missed the cut on two over following scores of 73-72.