First round of the BMW PGA Championship suspended due to bad light, Luke Donald leads
The first round of the €4,500,000-BMW PGA Championship has been suspended due to bad light at 20:48 British Standard Time on Thursday. The European Tour’s event will resume at 8.45 am on Friday, at the par-71 Wentworth Golf Course
in Surrey, England.
As if heavy winds didn't create enough hurdles, rain started pouring down the golf course in the afternoon hours. Officials called off the round for 15 minutes, which in-turn affected the schedule of the tournament. After three
hours into the restart, darkness descended upon the course, resulting in difficult playing conditions. Unable to cope with mother-nature's games, the officials decided once again, to call off the day and had the horn blown at 20.48 pm.
According to the European tour’s website, the day has been rescheduled for Friday morning after rest of the field tees off at 7 am.
Five groups are yet to complete their first round, while rest of the punters will set ground for the second. Despite having them on a hold, the field still has a leader and it is none other than the man who finished second in the
Volvo World Match Play Championship; Luke Donald.
The Englishman reeled a total of eight birdies during the entire course of play. He teed off from the front and caught four birdies in the opening holes, and the remaining 4 of them on his way back to the clubhouse.
The 33-year-old was overwhelmed with his start and said while speaking to reporters, "When I woke up this morning I thought anything under par would be a good score. It was tough conditions out there. The wind was swirling and
there were rain showers. So to pretty much have total control of the ball today doesn't happen very often in golf."
Donald was chased by Italian rookie Matteo Manassero and Johan Edfors, who had scores of 66 each.
Meanwhile, the defending champion Simon Khan could not start the tournament in winner’s shoes. He compiled a 76 after dropping seven shots against two birdies. The Englishman seemed confused on the course, where he edged Luke Donald
with a six-stroke victory only last year.
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