Rory McIlroy makes quick turnaround for 5-way share of the lead at BMW as ailing Scheffler fades

Key Points:

• Rory McIlroy shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 at Bellerive, sharing the lead in the BMW Championship with three other U.S. Open champions and Chris Gotterup, marking a significant improvement after a recent four-week break.
• World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler struggled with illness, posting a 72 in the opening round, his highest since the U.S. Open, and expressed that he was feeling sick as he left for the locker room.
• Several U.S. Open champions, including Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, and J.J. Spaun, performed strongly, with Woodland notably recovering from brain surgery and aiming to secure a spot in the Tour Championship.
• Woodland emphasized the mental challenge of managing his heart rate post-surgery and highlighted his goal to compete consistently, underscoring the importance of his health in maintaining his performance.
• The leaderboard was tightly packed due to soft course conditions at Bellerive, originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and updated by his son, with multiple major champions near the top early in the tournament.