McIlroy delivers on day two to revive hopes of BMW PGA Championship triumph

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcilroy-rory/djwanksN/"]McIlroy[/a] had a poor finish to his first round at the Wentworth course, south-west of London, with three bogeys in his closing six holes.[/p][p]But it was a different story on Friday for the Northern Irishman, one of just six men golfers to have won all four of golf's major titles.[/p][p]McIlroy, the reigning US Masters champion, made three birdies in his opening five holes.[/p][p]The 37-year-old McIlroy, trying to reel in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/reed-patrick/OtRhqCKL/"]Patrick Reed[/a] to win a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, dropped a shot on the par-four eighth to head into the turn on 33 but regained that stroke with a birdie from 16 feet on the 11th hole.[/p][p]A birdie on the par-three 14th was followed by a bogey at 16.[/p][p]McIlroy narrowly missed an eagle chance on the 17th, but he tapped that in and then made another birdie on the last for a round of 67.[/p][embed guid="c31ea86b-40cc-49e1-86cf-28a032bb40f0" url="https://x.com/DPWorldTour/status/2100979918335058313" social-type="twitter" /][p]Reed retired midway through his second round with an injury, the American having been nine over.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gerard-ryan/Wh01wlMn/"]Gerard[/a], who had started the day at five under, rolled in a fine eagle from 20 feet on the 17th to take the outright lead, before finishing with a birdie in a superb round of 65.[/p][p]Australia's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scott-adam/QkZT3jCc/"]Adam Scott[/a] finished at 10 under after his 67 left him two shots off the lead and sharing second place with Italy's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/celli-filippo/6alkqoYR/"]Filippo Celli[/a].[/p][p][b]"I have had a couple of easy weeks,"[/b] Scott said. [b]"I felt a little underdone, probably, golf-wise coming in here, but at least fresh mentally. I think that has been good for me the last couple days."[/b][/p][p]US PGA champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rai-aaron/46TU9vUh/"]Aaron Rai[/a], playing alongside McIlroy and British Open champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fox-ryan/bR9ztYXn/"]Ryan Fox[/a] in a showpiece group, also had a birdie-birdie finish for his 69, which leaves the Englishman at nine under alongside Spain's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/elvira-manuel/QoHHacsc/"]Manuel Elvira[/a].[/p][p]New Zealand's Fox was one of a quintet of players on eight under, with McIlroy, England's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fisher-ross/dh0Yx5g1/"]Ross Fisher[/a], Spain's Ignacio Elvira and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/spaun-j-j/6oUJlkde/"]JJ Spaun[/a] of the United States.[/p]