VIRGINIA WATER, England -- Ryan Gerard finished eagle-birdie to shoot a 7-under 65 on Friday and take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the BMW PGA Championship, which will not feature Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood or Jon Rahm over the weekend.
The No. 21-ranked Gerard moved to 12-under for the week at the flagship event on the European tour, showing the kind of form that would serve the U.S. team well at the upcoming Presidents Cup.
The issue for the Americans is that Gerard, who was third at the Tour Championship last month, wasn't picked by captain Brandt Snedeker for the 12-man roster.
Gerard was bogey-free Friday -- he has dropped just one shot all week -- and produced a big finish on the back-to-back closing par 5s at Wentworth after making birdies at Nos. 12 and 13. He rolled in a 20-foot putt for eagle at No. 17 and then reached the green in two at No. 18 before two-putting for birdie.
Adam Scott (67) and Filippo Celli (66) were among the morning starters and set the clubhouse target that only Gerard surpassed. PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai (69) and Manuel Elvira (66) are three shots back, tied for fourth.
Of the 138 players to complete 36 holes, Rahm was last at 11 over, 23 shots behind Gerard in what might rank as the worst of the Spaniard's 228 tournaments as a professional.
Fleetwood also missed the cut after shooting 74 following an opening 73.
Reed, the leader of the Race to Dubai ranking ahead of Rory McIlroy, was forced to retire with an apparent hand injury midway through the second round.
McIlroy shot 67 and was in a five-way tie for sixth at 8 under. Also in that group was Ryan Fox (68) and J.J. Spaun (66).
