BMW PGA Championship first-round report
England's Danny Willett took the lead at the first round of the BMW PGA Championship today, as the new changes at Wentworth saw some of golf's biggest names come unstuck - course designer Ernie Els included.
The 22-year-old Willett (pictured) carded an impressive nine birdies, together with a trio of bogeys to take a one-stroke clubhouse lead over second-placed Richard Green of Australia. England's Ross Fisher and Scotland's Richie Ramsey were among those tied for third place on four-under.
With several big name players yet to finish their round the leaderboard could still change dramatically today, but neither Lee Westwood nor Paul Casey look capable of challenging on present evidence, both players currently taking on the back nine on one-under.
Of the bigger names to have completed 18 holes, Els may have enjoyed a significant advantage over his fellow players - he was charged with overseeing the recent adjustments to the course - but that didn't prevent him falling victim to the most controversial addition, the moat guarding the front of the 18th green.
In fairness to Els, that water hazard was the one change the South African had argued with club owner Richard Caring about implementing - with good reason, as it turned out. The 40-year-old saw his approach shot plop into the drink, forcing him to take a drop and end the day with a bogey, finishing two-under-par 69.
Padraig Harrington had played well throughout the day, only for his game to fall apart on the 17th, the Irishman driving into the trees and then chipping into a bush, eventually triple-bogeying the hole to see his day's work undone. On the 18th the 38-year-old played it safe, laying up on his second shot rather than attempting to make the green to finish on level par.
Ian Poulter has never got to grips with Wentworth, his best finish here in eight previous attempts a lowly tie for 33rd place. The Englishman was true to his prior form here today, carding a dismal eight bogeys and a birdie to come home seven-over-par 78.
Germany's Martin Kaymer, another player tipped to impress here, was similarly disappointing, Kaymer finishing five-over-par 76 after five bogeys and a double on the 7th. Rory McIlroy was also on five-over, though the Ulsterman is yet to finish his round.
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