Matsuyama hits the front; Walsh lurking in Swiss Open; Galbraith qualifies
VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan looks on from the 16th green on day two of the BMW PGA Championship 2025 at Wentworth Golf Club on September 12, 2025 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)
Hideki Matsuyama stormed into the lead on his BMW PGA Championship debut, but it was a mixed day for the Irish at Wentworth.
The Japanese star made his second eagle of the day at the 18th and carded an eight-under 64 to lead by a shot from Ryder Cup stars Ludvig Aberg, Justin Rose and Viktor Hovland on 12-under.
The Swede shot 69, and Rose and Hovland a pair of 66s, but it was a tough day for teammates Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.
"I wasn't expecting I would play this good," Matsuayama said. "So very happy with the round today.
"I would love to achieve something big right here, but obviously the condition's going to be changing for the weekend, so hopefully I can adjust to that."
Hovland was also thrilled with his score after struggling from the tee.
"I can't remember the last time I've chipped it and putted it as well as I have the last couple of days," he told Sky Sports.
"I'm super-happy to be where I am at. Scoring-wise, it is incredible, as I am really struggling off the tee and trying not to hit it off line and into the trees, and so far it's been good, and from there I've been amazing."
While Matt Fitzpatrick was tenth on seven under and Tyrrell Hatton and his LIV Golf teammate Tom McKibbin shot 70s to get to five under, McIlroy double bogeyed the 18th to card a 72 that left him on nine shots off the pace alongside Lowry on three under.
The Masters champion was in danger of flirting with the projected two-under cut line when he bogeyed the third, fourth and fifth to slip back to level par.
But after hauling himself back up the leaderboard with five birdies in seven holes from the eighth, the world number two lost a ball off the tee at the 18th and took seven.
Lauren Walsh of Ireland during the second round. Credit: Tristan Jones/ LET
It was just an even more trying day for Lowry in windy morning conditions as he came to the 18th one over for his round and made bogey after failing to escape from a fairway bunker at the first attempt en route to a 74.
Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, shot a second 73 on the trot and will miss the cut when the second round is finalised today.
It was another good day for Lauren Walsh at the LET's VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
The Castlewarden talent shot a bogey-free, two-under 70 to share second place with Australia's Sarah Kemp on seven under.
They're two strokes behind England's Alice Hewson, who shot 67 to lead on nine-under.
"I think I missed maybe three greens, but I managed to get up and down each time, which was really important," Walsh said.
"You're not going to hit every shot perfectly, so it was good to rely on my short game when I needed."
Sara Byrne was 17th on three under with Annabel Wilson a shot further back in 23rd.
At the First Stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School at the Northumberland Golf Club, Whitehead's John Ross Galbraith was the only Irishman to make it through to next month's Second Stage.
The former Irish Amateur Close champion closed with a level par 72 to finish tied for sixth on 12-under, two strokes inside the top 14 and ties who progressed.
Naas Robert Brazill shot 76 to miss out by six shots on four-under with Daniel Mulligan one under, and James Sugrue and Luke O'Neill on level par.
