Scottie Scheffler was not leading the BMW Championship after the opening rounds: he struggled to 2-over 72 in Round 1 and was outside the lead after Friday’s second round, while Rory McIlroy and others occupied the top positions.
True
Scottie Scheffler was not leading the BMW Championship after the early rounds of the tournament.
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler suffer reversal of fortunes at PGA Tour's BMW Championship - BBC Sport
Source: bbc.com
At a glance
Verified August 22, 2026Key Evidence
Scheffler shot a 2-over 72 in the first round and was reported tied for 44th, well behind the five players sharing the lead.
Friday coverage described Scheffler as moving back toward contention, not leading the tournament after two rounds.
Multiple outlets independently reported his poor opening start, although some differed on his exact position during the round.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The claim is supported by the tournament coverage. After the opening round at Bellerive Country Club, Scheffler had shot 2-over 72 and was tied for 44th, while Rory McIlroy was part of a five-player tie for the lead. That directly establishes that Scheffler was not leading after the first round.usatoday.comusatoday.comBMW Championship Round 1 leaderboard: McIlroy tied for lead, Scheffler struggles
skysports.comskysports.comBMW Championship: Rory McIlroy grabs share of opening-round lead as Scottie...+1 more
Scheffler improved during the second round, making a strong run of birdies after a difficult start, but Friday’s coverage described him as trying to climb back into contention rather than holding the lead. NBC Sports likewise characterized his position after two rounds as one from which he needed to recover. The supplied sources therefore support the claim’s broader reference to the early rounds.usatoday.comusatoday.comBMW Championship 2026 leaderboard, Friday updates at FedEx Cup playoffs
nbcsports.comnbcsports.comScottie Scheffler details path to BMW Championship contention after Round 2
Some of the supplied reports differ in the precise description of his first-round position, including a report placing him joint-last after nine holes, but they agree on the material point: Scheffler was not at the top of the leaderboard after the opening round. The evidence supports the statement within the ordinary meaning of “early rounds.”bbc.combbc.comRory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler suffer reversal of fortunes at PGA Tour's BMW...
sports.yahoo.comsports.yahoo.comScottie Scheffler sets season-worst record during disappointing first round at...+1 more
Primary trail
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