McGinley blitzes West Course

McGinley: Superb 65

First round leaders:
(GB & Ire unless stated)
P McGinley -7
R Karlsson (Swe) -6
M Fraser (Aus) -6
G Houston -5
C Schwartzel (SA) -5
D Vancsik (Arg) -5

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Paul McGinley fired a course-record 65 at Wentworth's remodelled West Course to claim the lead after the first round of the BMW PGA Championship.

The Dubliner notched seven birdies in a flawless opening round and finished the day one shot clear of Swede Robert Karlsson at the top of the leaderboard.

McGinley, who has slipped outside the world's top 150, produced a wonderful display of shot-making in firm and bouncy conditions as many of the big names in the field struggled.

Having picked up strokes at four and nine, McGinley - who birdied all four of the par-fives - turned on the style on the back nine with no fewer than five birdies to pull well clear of the field in the early stages.

The 41-year-old admitted afterwards that he had relished a challenge many could not come to terms with.

"I like to be challenged with course management and ball control," he explained. "And when it's playing hard and fast this is a real proper test of golf.

Old-style

"This is old-style. That is what the game was initially designed around and I revel in it.

"Distance is an important facet, but there should be a gamble where if you do miss it you're going to suffer the consequences."

McGinley looked like ending the day some way clear at one point, but was eventually challenged by a fine round of 67 from Australian Marcus Fraser who sits on his own in third at -5.

One of the later starters, Karlsson managed three birdies on the outward and inward nines to pull within one of 2006 Ryder Cup team-mate McGinley on -6.

A group of three have gathered in joint fourth on -4, Welshman Garry Houston, Daniel Vancsik of Argentina and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel, with Scotland's Marc Warren amongst another trio just one shot further adrift.

Nick Dougherty (-2), David Howell (-2), Graeme McDowell (-2), Miguel Angel Jimenez (-1) and Paul Casey (-1) all managed to shoot under-par rounds, but it proved far tougher for many of the other more fancied names.

Big names struggle

Ernie Els, whose redesign was aimed at making the course a tougher test, ending up suffering at his own hands with the South African only able to card a three-over-par 75.

That was the same score as Darren Clarke, defending champion Anders Hansen and Jose Maria Olazabal, while Justin Rose could do no better than 76 and Order of Mertit leader Lee Westwood worse still with a 77.

Colin Montgomerie, who made an dreadful start with a double-bogey at two and a bogey at three, produced a solid back-nine to end the day at +1 and was joined by US Open champion and Wentworth specialist Angel Cabrera who had no fewer than six bogeys and five birdies in his round.