BMW PGA Championship Update: Paul McGinley has raced into the early lead on the opening day of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The Dubliner made steady progress in the opening stages with his first birdie coming at the fourth. However, his round ignited around the turn when the 41-year-old reeled off three birdies in four holes from the ninth.
The 2005 runner-up forged further under par with birdies at the 14th plus the two closing par fives for a flawless seven-under par 65.
At seven-under par, the Ryder cup contender leads by one shot from Sweden's Robert Karlsson, while Australia's Marcus Fraser and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen are tied in third place after carding rounds of 67 (-5).
"I have struggled most of the year with poor first rounds and I'm thrilled to get away to a good start in the tournament as its a long time since I have done that," McGinley told reporters after his round.
McGinley's 65 beats the previous best of 66 set last year by Briton Paul Broadhurst since Ernie Els lengthened the course by 300 yards in 2005.
The old course record of 63 was last equalled by Australian Jarrod Moseley in 2002.
Asked how the course was playing, McGinley added: "It's very tricky. It is hard and fast and I feel it is a real test of golf."
"You are not tested enough on course management on a lot of the courses we play, but today was old style golf, links golf, this is what the game was initially designed around and I revel in it."
Graeme McDowell quickly got over the disappointment of missing the cut at last week's Irish Open in Adare Manor to find himself two-under after an opening 70.
None of the other Irish contingent broke par. Damien McGrane carded a 72, Peter Lawrie and Gary Murphy 73, Rory McIlroy one shot back on 74.
Mark Staunton stood carded an 80 (+8) and Ashbourne's John Dwyer carded an 81 to finish +9 in this week's £3.5million (€4.4m) flagship event on the European Tour.
Darren Clarke was one of the early starters and had an exceptionally bumpy start. After five holes the 39-year-old had still to record a single par as he went bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey.
A double bogey at the 16th meant this year's BMA Asian Open champion was three-over and after failing to birdie either of the closing par fives signed for a disappointing 75.
Meanwhile, Vijay Singh damaged a stomach muscle on the range yesterday and was forced to withdraw from the tournament.
Course designer South Africa's Ernie Els finished with a 75 while England's Justin Rose carded a 76 for the day.
Additional reporting Reuters
