PGA Championship: Danny Willett and Jon Rahm lead while Rory cuts McIlroy

Willett & # 39; s round of seven under was matched only by Billy HorschelBMW PGA Championship, Wentworth: (Second round) -11: D Willett (Eng) J Rahm (Spa); -9: J Rose (Eng), H Stenson (Swe), C Bezuidenhout (SA) -7: B Horschel (US), P Casey (Eng) Selected others: -5: R Ramsay (Sco), A Johnston (Eng ), F Molinari (Ita); +1: T Fleetwood (Eng), R McIlroy (NI) Full leaderboard

Danny Willett shot a seven-under-par round to share half the lead in the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth.

The Englishman, 31, six birds and an eagle carded to reach 11 below, the same mark as Jon Rahm in Spain.

Justin Rose is in third place on nine under, while Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland has just made the cut, three under to reach one in general.

"I haven't really done much in recent weeks and some things are starting to creep into your game," McIlroy said.

The 30-year-old, who won the Fed-Ex Cup in August, added: "I'm glad I'm here for the weekend. I had to fight hard to be here. I'm proud of myself that I signed up.

"Plus one, the leaders are clearly up there, but the circumstances will be difficult.

"The course is getting tough. If I can shoot seven-under tomorrow, I will get myself to minus six, you never know … I've been low on this golf course before, so I feel like I'm that can do. "

Willett continues the fine form

Round two of the European Tour flagship event could not be fully completed due to poor light and five players will complete their round from 0715 BST on Saturday.

Willett & # 39; s fine round was further evidence of his return to form that had dropped to 462 in the rankings in 2018.

The 2016 Masters champion now stands at 58 and his figure from seven under on Friday was matched only by the American Billy Horschel, who is seven under general.

"I'm probably not back on my best," said Willett, who won the DP World Tour Championship in August.

"I am still working on the movements and there are still photos that I do not like.

" As a whole, the body is day and night where it was and are the movements well. The ability to travel around the world and play golf is back there and I'm just in a much better place with everything, really. Hopefully an exciting weekend. "

Rahm eyes legend status

The English Tommy Fleetwood in England just surpassed the cut just once to remain the only player in the top 50 who still misses a part in 2019.

Rose is in third place in third place with the Swedish Henrik Stenson and the South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

Rahm, 24, looked like he would also share the brand, but he converted an eagle on the last to join Willett, with a great recovery as he made a bogey at the opening of two holes.

"I did not lose patience or panic because I know I have the whole round and I have all day to make it up, "said Rahm, the number six in the world.

" There is a lot of history here and lots of legends on the wall, so it would be great to become a member of that great list of players. "