WATCH: History repeats itself as Rory McIlroy gets lucky bounce off the woods at BMW PGA championship

Rory McIlroy finished the second round of the 2024 BMW PGA Championship on 9-under. After the first 36 holes, McIlroy is in a share of fourth place, four shots behind leader Matthew Baldwin.

McIlroy also signed one of the luckiest shots of the round when his ball hit the trees and bizarrely returned to the fairway. The video of the play was posted by the DP World Tour on X (formerly Twitter).

The play occurred as Rory McIlroy teed off on the 605-yard, par-5 17th hole, looking to hit the fairway over the dogleg left. The ball landed in the left rough and rolled dangerously close to the trees, but whimsically changed direction and returned to the fairway. He eventually made par on the hole.

The play was reminiscent of a similar shot made by Rory McIlroy on the same hole during the 2022 BMW PGA Championship. On that occasion, the Northern Irishman's ball went completely through the trees but unexpectedly came back out onto the fairway.

Rory McIlroy was already the protagonist of a bizarre play in the first round when one of his irons dramatically dropped its head after hitting the ball. No less spectacular was the fact that the ball still managed to reach the green, ending in an excellent lie for the Northern Irishman.

Rory McIlroy closed the second round of the BMW PGA Championship with five birdies and one bogey for four-under. A day earlier, he carded seven birdies and two bogeys (5-under). He is currently tied for fourth with Matteo Manassero.

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Rory McIlroy: "I'm certainly not done yet"

Rory McIlroy won the 2014 BMW PGA Championship. The 10th anniversary of his title at the Wentworth Club did not go unnoticed by the press, so one reporter asked him how he rates his career in the 10 years that have passed:

That was part of what McIlroy said:

"It's been a great ten years. I feel like I've achieved most things I've wanted to do in the game in those ten years. Been part of unbelievable Ryder Cup teams and had some great individual success. I'm certainly not done yet and want to keep going."

Commenting on his performance in the first two rounds of the event, McIlroy said:

"It's been good. I think it's been solid. I think 9-under is probably a fair reflection of how I've played over the first couple days. You know, when I've missed some greens, my short game has been pretty good and I got up-and-down."

He added:

"A couple key saves on 14 and 17 coming in, and then birdies at 16 and 18 were nice, as well. So yeah, overall, pretty pleased with where I'm at on the leaderboard."

The second round of the BMW PGA Championship was suspended due to darkness with 18 players yet to complete their rounds. As a result, tee times and groupings for the third round are yet to be confirmed by tournament officials.