Patrick Reed sadly withdrew from the BMW PGA Championship after sustaining an injury in the second round.
After playing the first nine holes nine-over par, Reed injured his wrist when he struck a tree root with his club on the ninth hole. He was carted off after hitting his tee shot on the 10th in visible discomfort.
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Reed has been playing on the DP World Tour this season after leaving LIV Golf, and he intends to return to the PGA Tour now that his suspension has been served.
Speaking after his second round, McIlroy says he “respects” how Reed has conducted himself this season on the DP World Tour, but he’s set to benefit from his injury and has been given a golden opportunity this week.
What Rory McIlroy can do this week after Patrick Reed’s injury
Reed and McIlroy are currently battling for the Race to Dubai title. McIlroy is looking to tie Colin Montgomerie with the most Race to Dubai titles of all time, eight. Meanwhile, Reed is hoping to force McIlroy to wait another year.
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Having played on the DP World Tour all year, Reed is currently leading the standings. He’s won twice on the tour this season and also finished second twice. But with his Masters victory, McIlroy is hot on Reed’s tail, sitting second in the standings.
This could all be about to change this week. McIlroy is currently around 900 points behind Reed, but with Reed’s withdrawal at Wentworth, a runner-up finish this week could see the Northern Irishman take the lead in the standings.
He’s currently four shots behind the leader, Ryan Gerrard, after two rounds of the BMW PGA Championship, sitting at eight-under par, so a strong weekend would put him in a great spot as the DP World Tour approaches the postseason.
It won’t be the way McIlroy would have wanted to win it, but Reed’s injury could be the turning point that lets the career Grand Slam winner make yet more history.
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