Rory McIlroy produced a remarkable round at Wentworth as the BMW PGA Championship got under way with its Celebrity Pro-Am, while former Real Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale was among the sporting celebrities taking part.
McIlroy carded a bogey-free 12-under-par 60 during the Pro-Am, recording one eagle and 10 birdies. His score was two strokes better than the official Wentworth course record of 62, although the round does not count as an official tournament record because it was played in the Pro-Am.
The four-time major champion was part of a team that included former England cricketer Stuart Broad, Olympic gold medallist Sam Quek and former Formula 1 technician Calum Nicholas. Their performance helped them win the morning Pro-Am by seven strokes.
Bale was one of the headline names in the afternoon session. The former Wales captain and Real Madrid forward played alongside Ludvig Åberg, former England goalkeeper Joe Hart and West Indies cricket great Brian Lara.
The event also featured former Chelsea teammates John Terry and Eden Hazard, who were joined by ex-Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler. The Pro-Am brought together 40 professional golfers, each leading a team of three amateur players across two shotgun starts.
McIlroy's exceptional score provided an early indication of his form ahead of the main tournament, which begins on Thursday at Wentworth. The Northern Irishman is a former BMW PGA Championship winner, having claimed the title in 2014.
The 2026 BMW PGA Championship runs from September 17 to 20 and features a strong field including defending champion Alex Noren, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry. The tournament is one of the DP World Tour's flagship Rolex Series events.
With McIlroy entering the tournament after his eye-catching Pro-Am round, attention now turns to whether he can carry that form into the official competition, where the scores will count toward the DP World Tour standings and the Race to Dubai.