Rory McIlroy will play in the Ryder Cup next month

Rory McIlroy's hopes of qualifying for the final FedEx Cup play-off event look remote after he fired a three-over 74 at the BMW Championship in Chicago.

McIlroy's two-round total of eight over par left him ahead of only six players in the 70-strong no-cut event.

The 21-year-old needs a top-27 finish this week to qualify for the Tour Championship final in two weeks.

McIlroy was 14 shots behind leader Charlie Wi after a round which included two double bogeys and three bogeys.

After his 76 on Thursday, the Northern Irishman birdied three of his opening five holes after starting at the 10th on Friday but his momentum was halted by a double bogey on 15 and bogeys on 16 and 17.

A further bogey at the second was followed by a double bogey on the third although he steadied towards the end of his round with a run of four successive pars and a birdie at the eighth.

Of those players already finished, only Ben Crane (11 over), DJ Trahan (nine over) and YE Yang (nine over) were behind McIlroy while Argentina's Andres Romero had yet to start his second round after an opening 80.

McIlroy went into this week's event 29th in the FedEx standings - with only the top 30 going through to the Atlanta event in a fortnight.

Charlie Wi leads on six under par after a 69 while English pair Ian Poulter (72) and Paul Casey (69) are on four under par.

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