WASHINGTON (AFP) - Rory McIlroy's late eagle lifted him into a tie for the BMW Championship first-round lead on Thursday (Aug 26) alongside world No. 1 Jon Rahm and American Sam Burns.

Rahm, the defending champion in the second of three events in the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs, had eight birdies in his eight-under 64 at Caves Valley Golf Club in suburban Baltimore, Maryland.