Shane Lowry Bjorn Again

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Shane Lowry enjoyed yet another good round on the West Course at Wentworth on Friday to keep his hopes alive heading into moving day.

After setting the course record during the opening round of the BMW PGA Championship, Thomas Bjorn's even-par 72 was enough to keep a share of the lead heading into the weekend at Wentworth.

The Dane balanced three bogeys with three birdies, including two across his final four holes, and after opening with a 62 he now sits alongside Shane Lowry at 10 under. 

The pair remain four shots clear of Rafael Cabrera-Belloand two-time BMW champion Luke Donald, who are tied for third at 6-under 138.

Lowry shot a 64 in the first round but struggled out of the gates Friday, making the turn in 2-over 37. He rallied with four back-nine birdies, including birdies at both the par-5 17th and 18th holes, to draw even with Bjorn. The Irishman won the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur and is in search of his first European Tour victory since the 2012 Portugal Masters.

Donald's 5-under 67 was the low round of the day at Wentworth, which has been blanketed by rain for much of the first two days. He's hardly the only big name still in contention, though, asHenrik Stenson, Rory McIlroy and Masters runner-up Jonas Blixt will all begin the third round tied for fifth, five shots off the lead.

Stenson is looking to end Adam Scott's reign atop the world rankings after only one week, and a high finish in England will go a long way toward that goal. McIlroy has missed the cut each of the past two years at Wentworth, but he's in contention after rounds of 68 and 71 as he continues to cope with his recent split from former fiancee Caroline Wozniacki.

With the projected cut at 2-over 146, several notable names were sent packing after just two rounds. The list of early exits includes Brooks Koepka (+4), Jose Maria Olazabal (+4), Ernie Els (+6), Charl Schwartzel (+9) and defending champion Matteo Manassero (+7)

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Jacklin Offers Rory Best Advice

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Twice major winner Tony Jacklin has urged Rory McIlroy to take a leaf out of world number one Adam Scott's book and keep his own counsel on some of his off-the-course issues.

Northern Irishman McIlroy, 25, has been the centre of attention in this week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth since announcing on Wednesday that he was calling off his planned wedding to leading Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.

The couple played out their two-and-a-half year relationship in the glare of the worldwide media spotlight. Scott, by contrast, got married in secret last month to long-time girlfriend and Swedish architect Marie Kojzar.

The Australian said it was such a private occasion in the Bahamas that many of the guests did not even know about it in advance.

"Whatever happens to Rory in the future I think he needs to be a bit more like Adam Scott and not let on so much to the outside world," the 69-year-old Jacklin told Reuters in an interview on Friday.

"Maybe he needs to try and keep his private life more private. Hopefully though this is just a bump in the road for him.

"If it's the right decision it's behind him now. He can move on very quickly so it might not be a bad thing."

Jacklin was a similar age to former world number one McIlroy when he captured the attention of the international media by winning the 1969 British Open and 1970 U.S. Open.

One difference between the two men, however, is that the Englishman was immersed in a stable family environment during his early years as a sporting globetrotter, having married Northern Irishwoman Vivien at the age of 21.

Jacklin's home life in the 1960s was similar to that of his contemporaries, golfing greats like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

"It's a wonderful thing for a golfer to meet someone you are compatible with early in your career," said Jacklin.

"I found Vivien, Jack found Barbara and Gary found Vivienne. We all married very young and it's almost like you get that part of your life out of the way, if you like."I could've just drifted on but when you have the extra responsibility of a wife and family it gives you added impetus to do well. I thought that was a good thing in my day," added Jacklin, Europe's most successful Ryder Cup captain of all time.

"Going back all those years I was something of a loner in golf and you have to be to succeed. I got married at 21 and my wife was my companion, my confidant and my best friend and if Rory is not ready for that, he's not ready, it's as simple as that."

Jacklin's first wife died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage in April 1988 and he later married Norwegian Astrid Waagen.

The Englishman said he had a lot of sympathy for the turmoil world number 10 McIlroy had gone through in the past 18 months.

"I just hope Rory is not too affected by all this," said Jacklin who led Europe to two Ryder Cup wins, one tie and one

defeat. "Last year he was criticised for changing his clubs and I suppose he brought attention on to himself.

"He has also had the added factor of relocating to America. You can't be the number one player in the world living in Holywood, Northern Ireland.

"I'm sorry, it just doesn't work that way, so he had to do that," explained Jacklin.

"He's had to make quite a lot of adjustments to his life in a short period of time and every time you step on to the golf course you are always under the microscope so it's not easy for him."

Rory McIlroy made the cut at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth with a second round 71 that left him on five under par.

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McIlroy Rors Back After Turn

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Rory McIlroy fought back from double bogey on the 7th hole he eagled the day before to card a 1-under-par 71 in miserable, wet conditions to stay in contention at the BMW PGA Championship on Thursday.

McIlroy's two-round total of 5-under 139 left him tied for second in the clubhouse, a shot behind Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain, who scored 73.

McIlroy finished much better than he started, as he eagled the par-five 12th for a second straight day, and birdied three of his last four holes.

"The way the conditions were this morning, being 3-over par after seven wasn't all that bad, and it wasn't disastrous," he said.

Jonas Blixt of Sweden was tied with McIlroy after also hitting 71 in his Wentworth debut. The Masters runner-up is eyeing his maiden European Tour victory, especially if the weather remains poor.

"My golf hasn't been too great but I kind of saved myself a couple of times, hitting some really good shots," Blixt said.

"I don't think now with the rain settling in that anyone is going to run away with it.

"But I can't remember the last time I played wearing so much clothing. It became really cold out there, and I'm going back to my hotel for a sleep as it was very long day yesterday with the two delays, and then the early tee time today."

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