Rory McIlroy Four Times Behind Unknown Leader at BMW PGA Championship

VIRGINIA WATER, England — Three weeks ago, Matthew Baldwin was laughing at himself for hitting a drive so wrong that the ball went between his legs and landed just a few feet past the tees.

The No. 363 English player led by two strokes in the second round of the European Tour’s premier event on Friday as he prepared for the biggest weekend of his career.

The 38-year-old Baldwin shot 6-under 66 to set an unexpectedly fast pace at the BMW PGA Championship with a 13-under finish, equaling the prestigious tournament’s 36-hole record. Many of Europe’s top players — including Rory McIlroy, who shot 68 to trail the leader by four strokes — struggled to catch up.

It’s quite a story, with Baldwin having been through the tour’s qualifying school six times in a turbulent career that saw him, just two years ago, play on the Challenge Tour – the level below the European Tour – and finish just inside the world’s top 850. He was back on the main tour last year when he took his only professional win, at the SDC Championship in South Africa.

This year has been a challenge at times, with him missing four consecutive cuts in June and July before finding form. There was a tie for 12th at the Czech Masters in August and then a tie for 18th at the British Masters at The Belfry — where he suffered that embarrassing incident off the tee.

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Matt Baldwin attempted to avoid what is likely to be the shortest drive of his career at the Betfred British Masters on Thursday.

When asked what he learned through all those difficult times, Baldwin replied, “That there are more important things in life, I think.

“At the end of the day, we all do our best. Sometimes my best wasn’t good enough. Now I’m in a good place mentally and physically and I enjoy what I do.”

Baldwin built on his one-stroke lead from the night before, after a first-round 65, by making seven birdies — including five in six holes starting on the third — along with a dropped shot on the 11th hole for his only bogey so far.

“Just playing sensible golf, really,” Baldwin said of his strategy on the West Course. “I try not to hit it too close, which of course forces you — sometimes you can get short-sided and things like that.

“I putted really well, which kept the momentum going.”

Denmark’s Niklas Norgaard, who won the British Masters this month, was Baldwin’s closest challenger with a 67 to leave him at 11 under.

France’s Antoine Rozner, ranked 199, trailed by a stroke after birdieing each of the last five holes to shoot a bogey-free 65.

“To be honest, I struggled a little bit with my game,” Rozner said, “so this type of round today was very good.”

The No. 3 McIlroy hit a 220-yard approach shot to 15 feet on the par-5 18th but couldn’t convert an eagle putt in front of a noisy gallery in the fading light. A birdie moved him into a tie for fourth with 2013 champion Matteo Manassero (68) at 9 under overall, putting McIlroy in strong position to win the event for a second time — after 2014 — with no one else in the top four of the world’s top 100.

“I feel good. When I look at the standings, the guys up there have played really well the first few days,” McIlroy said, before adding: “Maybe they don’t have as much experience in that position.”

Billy Horschel, the 2021 champion from the United States, shot 69 to trail Baldwin in sixth place by five strokes. European Ryder Cup players Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Robert MacIntyre (70) were a stroke behind.

Defending champion Ryan Fox contributed on two consecutive holes – saving a bogey on the 15th and an eagle 2 on the 16th – to post a score of 70 and make the cut with a total of 3-under par.

Around lunchtime there was a delay of almost 80 minutes due to thunder and lightning.