The No. 3-ranked McIlroy was two strokes off the lead held by No. 363-ranked Matthew Baldwin in the flagship event on the European Tour, having bounced back well from the pain of being denied victory at his home Irish Open last week.

England's Matthew Baldwin eclipsed a powerful field to lead the BMW PGA Championship by one stroke after the first round at Wentworth on Thursday. Baldwin signed for a seven-under round of 65 to top the leaderboard from Denmark's Niklas Norgaard and Belgium's Thomas Detry who carded six-under rounds.

After winning twice on the PGA Tour this season — at the RBC Canadian Open and Genesis Scottish Open — Scotland's Robert MacIntyre is back on the DP World Tour, playing in the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club.

EPC golf tournament at Great Bear Country Club in East Stroudsburg. The Great Bear Golf and Country Club last hole number 18, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, during a golf tournament at Great Bear Country Club. (Jonathan Broady/Special to the Morning Call)

On the cart path just off the 13th green Friday at Maridoe Golf Club, a volunteer raised his arm in the universal signal to halt traffic and conversation while Ian Poulter chipped on. Fans politely obliged,