McIlroy four behind Gerard after second round at Wentworth

Rory McIlroy stayed in contention with a five-under 67 to sit four strokes behind second-round leader Ryan Gerard at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Friday. The score came in the tournament's second round.

Rory McIlroy is second in the Race to Dubai standings and his hopes of winning a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title were also buoyed by the withdrawal of Patrick Reed after nine holes. The American, who currently leads the standings on the DP World Tour, had been well placed after the first round but was forced to retire through injury while nine-over par for Friday's round. "Unfortunately he's pulled out this week, which gives me an opportunity to try to claw back some ground that I lost last week in Ireland," said McIlroy, who is at eight under overall. "This weekend is a big weekend for me to pick up a few points and make the race even tighter going into these last few weeks. I'm in a great spot heading into the weekend."

Gerard produced a flawless round of 65, making five birdies and an eagle to leave him two shots clear of Australia's Adam Scott and Italy's Filippo Celli, who sit at 10 under.

McIlroy made three birdies in his opening five holes, recovered from dropped shots on the eighth and 16th and picked up four strokes on the back nine, including birdies on the 17th and 18th.

US PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai, who played alongside McIlroy and Open champion Ryan Fox in a marquee group, finished with a birdie-birdie run to sign for a 69. The Englishman, who had shared the lead overnight, was at nine under alongside Spain's Manuel Elvira, with McIlroy and Fox among a quintet of players a further shot back.

BMW PGA Championship - round two -12 R Gerard (US); -10 A Scott (Aus), F Celli (Ita); -9 M Elvira (Spa), A Rai (Eng) Selected others: -8 R Fox (NZ), R Fisher (Eng), R McIlroy (NI), I Elvira (Spa), JJ Spaun (US); -7 M Wallace (Eng); -6 S Straka (Aut), A Noren (Swe); -5 L Aberg (Swe), V Hovland (Nor); -4 D Law (Sco), R MacIntyre (Sco), S Lowry (Ire), M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -3 J Rose (Eng)

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka was among the big names to miss the cut at one over. Englishman Tommy Fleetwood will also miss the weekend after a 74 left him at three over, while Spain's Jon Rahm followed a six-over-par 78 on Thursday with a 77 on Friday to end 138th and last of all those to finish on Friday.

The BMW PGA Championship moves into the weekend with Gerard at 12 under and McIlroy at eight under.