Lawrie Books Frisco for US Open

Only twenty-fours after securing a firuth place at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Peter Lawrie emerged from the 36-holes US Open international qualifying tournament at Walton Heath – in a play-off – and will make his debut in the Major at the Olympic Club in San Francisco next month.

With 11 qualifying spots up for grabs, Lawrie – whose only previous Major appearance came in the 2005 British Open at St Andrews where he missed the cut – posted rounds of 67 on the New course and 71 on the Old course to get into a five-way play-off for the final four spots.

Sweden’s Alexander Noren and Scotland’s Marc Warren topped the qualifying on nine under par amd were joined by England’s Lee Slattery, Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, South Africa’s Geoge Coetzee, Finland’s Mikko Ilonen and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.

In the play-off, Italy’s Matteo Manassero and England’s Matt Baldwin booked their tickets at the first play-off hole with birdies.

France’s Raphael Jacquelin claimed their spots at the second. Korea’s Sihwan Kim was the player to lose out, earning a place on the alternate list.

Lawrie, who has been attempting to shake off a cough for the past month which he picked up in China, hit form at Wentworth where he more than held his own in the company of world number one Luke Donald on Saturday.

Although Lawrie is slated to play the Wales Open this week at The Celtic Manor, he is likely now to withdraw from Scandinavian Masters to allow preparations for his maiden US Open appearance.

Els Apologises for Green Outburst

Peter Lawrie's playing partner on the final day of the BMW PGA Championship, Ernie Els, has apologised to European Tour officials for his outspoken criticism of Wentworth's greens.

The South African, who has overseen several redesigns of the West Course , was furious at what he perceived to be a lack of watering on Saturday.

An angry Els complained that his calls to soften the greens were ignored.

"Ernie Els asked to see me this morning and apologised for his intemperate language," said European Tour chief executive George O'Grady.

"He stated that he had already apologised to all the individuals concerned and offered a substantial donation to the European Tour Benevolent Trust, which I accepted.

"The European Tour now consider this matter closed."

Els, who has a house on the Wentworth estate, helped resculpt the course three years ago but his early changes received vocal criticism from a number of top players.

A few more minor tweaks this year were met with approval, but Els was furious with the hard, bouncy condition of the course for this week's BMW Championship.

"I asked them to put water on the greens, so put water on the greens," said the 42-year-old after his third round in baking temperatures.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. The guys are not happy and I'm not happy.

"I landed my second at the 18th probably five yards too far. How much money did we spend on the 18th? We built a dam there. Why the hell was the green not holding?

"My point is, you hit a driver and then a four-iron gets you in the middle of the green. What else must you do next? Must I be the greenkeeper here?

"The Tour has got to play ball - it's not my job. The 15th green is holding, the 16th is not, the 17th is not, the 18th is not.

"They're all inconsistent. I can't keep talking about this. At some point they've got to listen. I do talk, but they don't listen.

"I can't control the wind and it seems like I can't control the greens staff either. They've seen the forecast almost a week in advance, but it's like talking to this wall behind me - I'm fed up.

"This is not a surprise. I've been talking since I landed on Monday - keep the moisture on the greens. It gets to me. I want everybody to have a fair and tough examination.

"Anybody who has half an idea in this game can walk to the 12th green and see - it's dead. Somebody is not doing their job. Why is this happening?"

Tournament director David Garland said on Saturday: "We want a tough and fair set-up. The greens have been hand-watered every night after play.

"This was done last night and because we knew that east winds were forecast, sprinklers were also put on every single green to give them more water.

"Because of the conditions, some fairways were also watered and tees were moved forward on the 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th."

Despite being bathed in sunshine over the first three days, the condition of the West Course has been causing concern following weeks of cold and wet weather.

Head greenkeeper Chris Kennedy said it had been "the most difficult build-up I have ever known".

Donald BMW Win Reclaims Top Spot

Luke Donald regained top spot in the world rankings in emphatic fashion with a four-shot victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The reigning champion fired a final round of 68 to finish well clear of compatriot Justin Rose and Scotsman Paul Lawrie and retain his title.

The Englishman's sixth victory in the last 15 months also moves him back above Rory McIlroy, who had missed the cut by no less than eight shots on Friday, in the rankings.

Resuming his final round with a two-shot lead, Donald found himself joined at the top of the leaderboard by Rose just four holes into Sunday's play.

However, the 34-year-old put his foot on the accelerator to go clear once more, producing back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh.

Once he had gone three clear with a 25-foot putt at the short 10th, Donald never looked like being caught again. He picked up further shots at the 12th and 15th to take the first prize of almost £600,000 on 15 under par.

"To come and defend and get back to number one is very sweet indeed," Donald said afterwards.

"I was just trying to keep my head down and plug away. I was swinging well and I've putted well all week.

"I just needed to settle down a bit. This is a big week and I felt some of the pressure.

"After the fourth I didn't give him (Rose) another hole where he was teeing

off first other than the 18th. I got the job done.

"I take a great amount of satisfaction. It means I am doing the right things - the hard work is paying off and I have a great team around me."

It was all a far cry from 2011 at the same venue when a play-off was required to see off the challenge of Lee Westwood, with that victory seeing him also take over as world No.1 from the man he had beaten to the title.

Now Donald heads to American soil, playing in the Memorial tournament in Ohio next week as he builds up towards the US Open in San Francisco on June 14-17.

Rose missed a plethora of birdie chances to put pressure on his countryman and ended up signing for a 70, leaving him in a share for second place with Paul Lawrie (66). 

Peter Lawrie finished alone in fourth on eight under.

Lawrie Drives Home Fourth at BMW

A triple bogey on the seventh for Peter Lawrie on Sunday at the BMW PGA Championship was the worst error in an aggregate score of 280, which saw the Dubliner lead the event on the first two days – the flagship tournament for the European Tour. 

Then a remarkable double birdie finish, as he played in the second last group, secured fourth place outright, just three strokes behind his namesake Peter, and England’ Justin Rose – a winner already this season on the PGA Tour. 

With an opening round of 66 on Thursday, including an eagle on the par five 4th, signalled his intent early doors. In typically steady, the Dubliner did not relent throughout even when paired with world number 2, Luke Donald. 

In the end the title was not to be his on this occasion after the mishap before the turn. But his comeback on the back nine gave him a one under par 71 finish – to round off the weekends work with a payday of €225,00. In what has been so far a quiet season with only two top twenty finishes  – at The Sicilian Open and at Reale Seguros Open de España. 

Lawrie is now 38th in the Race to Dubai rankings. 

Peter claimed his maiden European Tour victory at the Open de España in 2008, defeating home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a play-off. Enjoyed a fine performance as defending champion in 2009, finishing tied third. 

he made history at the end of the 2003 season when he became the first Irish golfer to win the prestigious Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award. 

Educated at the University College Dublin where he undertook a golf scholarship, Peter graduated to The European Tour through the European Challenge Tour, finishing fourth in the Rankings at the end of 2002. All helped by a superb victory in the Challenge Tour Grand Final. 

His elevation to The European Tour was testament to his determination, having spent one year on the Asian Tour and three seasons on the Challenge Tour before achieving his goal. 

Peter was capped at boys, youths and national level for Ireland as an amateur. In his early days as a professional, he played in Asia and Florida, gaining a ‘Mini Tour’ victory in America’s Sunshine State.

BMW PGA Championship Result

Higgins Could Add Wales Open to Plans

David Higgins has ended a magnificent performance at the BMW PGA Championship on a sun kissed Wentworth Course, with a two under par 70, and slaying a tough West Course that over the past four days has taken a number of high profile Irish casualties.

None less than the most recent World Number One, Rory McIlroy, the current Open Champion Darren Clarke, the 2010 US Open Champion, Graeme McDowell and three time major winner Padraig Harrington - along with  a string of other illustrious names.

Amidst all that carnage Higgins exuded composure travelling around Wentworth with a remarkable consistency  - that suggests there is more to come - and carding three rounds of 70, with the one blip on a windy Saturday when reaching the historic gothic clubhouse in a two over par 74

In his third consecutive appearance at the BMW PGA Championship Higgins slayed his own demons on Sunday, conscious of his chase to clinch a vital tenth place - and eligible for an automatic invite to next week's Wales Open at The Celtic Manor.

A task easier said than done, and one filled with memories of two bad outings no doubt on the West Course in 2011 and 2010 when he missed the cut - and by double digits. 


On Sunday though the likable Kerry man proved  a few things to himself and no doubt to many others too.

Armed with a textbook swing, Higgins has been convinced that he has unfinished business on the European Tour, a place he departed from when he lost his automatic playing rights in 2008. Albeit he qualified for the Open Championship at Turnberry in 2009, Higgins has seen limited Tour Event - starts beyond his regular domination of the Irish PGA region order of merit.

A number of visits to Tour School over the past number of years have also proved fruitless, along with some disappointing outings at the Irish Open in Killarney. All enough perhaps to kill the desire of some. But not for David Higgins, who now can make more travel plans with his cheque for €78,300 in his back pocket, as a bonus.

An achievement  that deserves recognition.

Lawrie Still Leads Irish BMW Challenge

Peter Lawrie dropped shots on the fourteenth and fifteenth on Friday and repeated the same again on Saturday at the BMW PGA Championship to lose touch with his playing partner, Luke Donald, who waltzed through Wentworth in 69 strokes - to take the outright lead. 

Lawrie was left trailing Donald by four in the end and no doubt a disappointment for the Dubliner given it had been nip and tuck for most of early part of the round. It also let Justin Rose into second spot - on 9 under - which  now will see Lawrie paired the second last match with local resident, Ernie Els. 

Ten places behind though is David Higgins who will also be reflecting on his round of 74, which could prove even more costly on Sunday if he is unable to garner two birdies and seize a top ten finish on the West Course. That kind of result would guarantee a place at Celtic Manor next week for the Wales Open, a very good pay cheque and the start perhaps of a career revival – and an escape from the Irish PGA region to pastures new. 

Double bogeys though on the seventh and twelfth were where the major damage was done for the Waterville native.

Gareth Maybin ended Saturday with problems of similar kind having dropped eight shots on the day, with four birdies dotted through his card to limit overall score to 74 – and remain level; overall. 

Paul McGinley ended round 3 one over par in a three days where he has failed so far to match the sparkling 65 he carded in Korea at the Ballantine's last month. But there is always Sunday for such good news. 

Damien McGrane has got little out if Wentworth this weekend with a 75 on Saturday securing a 3 over in total, courtesy of four consecutive bogeys just before the turn. With  only one top ten finish so far this season, a second place at the Trophee Hassan, McGrane has yet to find the consistency that characterise his past two European Tour seasons. 

For Shane Lowry though the sense of the struggle was palpable carding a 79 on Saturday -  after making the turn in 41 strokes he then added a double bogeyed on the tenth. 

But all eyes are on Luke Donald who is on course to retain his BMW PGA Championship title - and return to World Number One - after defying testing conditions with a third round of 69 in front of record Saturday crowds 

More than 25,000 spectators flocked through the gates at Wentworth Club to witness the English Ryder Cup star showed his class with a joint-best round of the day in strong winds.

Needing only a top eight finish to take the World Number One spot back off Rory McIlroy, who opened the door by missing a second successive cut, the 34 year old is now 11 under par and two ahead of Justin Rose. 

Donald is trying to follow Sir Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie as the only players to make a successful defence of The European Tour's flagship event. Faldo did it in 1980 and 1981, while Montgomerie had three wins in a row from 1998 to 2000.

Overnight leader James Morrison endured a difficult day, however. Four clear after a sparkling second round 64, the World Number 236 signed for an 81 and will go into the closing 18 holes eight strokes off the lead. 

In contrast, Donald plotted his way around like the expert he now is, gathering birdies at the first two par fives and then going two clear at the 13th after Lawrie hit into the trees and bogeyed. 

Joint fourth are former Open Champion Paul Lawrie and South African trio Branden Grace, Richard Sterne and Ernie Els. 

Donald said: "The tougher the better for me. The good players that can be patient and deal with it are always going to rise to the top usually. 

"That was by far my best round of the three. The wind was swirling and I hit a lot of solid shots.

"There were a couple of loose ones coming down the stretch, but I'm very pleased with that finish - it was hugely important for me.

"Physically and mentally it was tough and it's going to be a grind tomorrow." 

Lawrie and Donald Battle on Course

Peter Lawrie reached three under par through twelve holes and for a moment claimed the outright lead of the round three of the BMW PGA Championship on Saturday, setting the pace at 12 under - edging ahead of World Number Two Luke Donald.

Donald also wasted little time claiming a share of the lead during the third round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.

While overnight leader James Morrison struggled with a bogey at the first and a triple-bogey eight at the fourth, Donald birdied the latter to move to nine under par.

That took The Race to Dubai champion into a share of top spot with Scotland’s David Drysdale.

Morrison, who was off the green in four, duffed a chip then two-putted the long fourth, was back to eight under and faced a real test of character to try and remain in contention.

The former England Youth cricketer - he played with Alastair Cook and Tim Bresnan - had gone round in a sparkling 64 on Friday to take charge of the European Tour's flagship event.

Donald, needing a top-eight finish to go back to World Number One after Rory McIlroy's second successive missed cut, was bunkered on the first, but saved par from 12 feet.

He was then on in two at the fourth and two-putted to move to nine under, while Drysdale, 291st on the Official World Golf Ranking and yet to win a European Tour event, made a 12 footer on the short second.

David Drysdale also found trouble either side of the turn , with a quadruple  bogey on the eighth  knocking him back down the field.

Course re-designer Ernie Els was moving into the picture, birdies at the fourth and sixth helping him to reach five under with four to play.

The best early score was a 69 from Ian Poulter that took him to three under, while Lee Westwood had a 70 that included six birdies, but also a 30 foot putt for a triple-bogey seven on the 13th, where he twice left shots in a fairway bunker and had a penalty drop in between. 

Things did not get better for Morrison. He was bunkered on the short fifth and bogeyed, then had another eight - this time a quadruple bogey - after going in the water on the eighth.

From 12 under he had dropped to three under and from four clear had tumbled seven behind new leader Lawrie, who birdied the eighth and tenth to reach ten under.

The Dubliner led Donald by one and Rose by two, but Drysdale was twice in the lake at the eighth, also took eight and on five under was down to joint fifth.

Higgins Shows BMW Class

David Higgins has been a multiple winner of Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING which normally culminates at the famous Kilkenny venue with an end of season final event. 

Having won the Irish PGA Order of Merit on numerous occasions Higgins is an experienced  golfer. All no surprise given he hails from a golfing family with his Father,  Liam, a veteran of the European Senior Tour in recent years. 


As a result by the time David was twenty one he was the country's leading amateur.

Following match play victories over Pádraig Harrington in the finals of the South of Ireland and the Irish Amateur Close championships he decided to turn professional in 1994.

In his Rookie season in 1996 Higgins earned £67,000 finishing just inside the top 100 on the Order of Merit. The following year he broke his left wrist and right elbow in a horse riding accident and failed to rediscover his form on his return to the game dropping down to the Challenge Tour in 1999.

In 2000 Higgins won three times on the Challenge Tour and was ranked 2nd at the end of the season earning his playing rights back on the European Tour for the following season. Having been unable to make the breakthrough over a few years Higgins returned to the Challenge Tour in 2005 finishing 12th - earning playing rights for the European Tour once again. However he lost his card at the end of 2007. 

In 2009 he qualified for The Open Championship in Turnberry and in winning the Irish PGA Order of Merit earned a place at the 3 Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth - failing to make the cut at all three events. At Stage of 3 of Q School last December at the PGA Catalunya the Waterville professional man also missed out on a return to the main Tour

This season David has been very consistent on the Irish PGA Region winning five times - including the Quinn Insurance Pro Am and a second place at the Southern Championship in Powerscourt behind Eamonn Darcy. However he failed to qualify for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrew's with a bigger disappointment to come in September when he failed to make it through European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 at Dundonald Links.

In his last two outings at the BMW PGA Championship Higgins has missed the cut. But this year he has broken the mold and on the second day carded an impressive  two under par in the windy conditions to secure a share of 17th place.

Personal Fact File

DOB: December 1st 1972 in County Cork.

Attachment: Waterville GC

Career: 

1989Irish Boys Championship

1994 Irish Amateur Closed Championship, South of Ireland Championship

European Challenge Tour

2000 NCC Open;

Günther Hamburg Classic

Rolex Trophy

Trainor Loses R2 West Course Battle

The talented Irish PGA professional Barrie Trainor suffered the tougher conditions at Wentworth on Friday afternoon. The result saw an efficient opening round come unstuck on Friday., when he signed for an eight over par 80 – to miss out on a lucrative weekend stay. 

Although the Warrenpoint opened with a bogey, he then birdied the fourth to make amends for the mistake at the third - which he also bogeyed. Only to drop two more shots at the seventh to reach the half way mark on three over par. 

Having started the day one under the danger zone started to loom at this stage if Barry was to remain inside the projected level par cut – which may have added to the pressure. 

But it was not to be this time and the homeward leg saw Trainor bogey ten, twelve, fourteen, fifteen and eighteen to finish with a 42, and leave him well outside the cut on +7 – albeit two shots better than the current US Open Champion and fellow Northern Ireland golfer, Rory McIlroy. 

And four shots better than three time major champion, Padraig Harrington. 

It was a pity for Trainor who had travelled the demanding course so safely on Thursday with a one under par - giving up only two bogeys on the card - and then amending matters with three birdies to ease the damage. 

But in truth it was a big step up to play with the world's best on the tough Ernie Elks redesigned course and far beyond anything – other than the Irish Open – that Trainor would play on a competitive basis with frequency. 

It is also no doubt disappointing for Trainor himself to exit in this way, the experience will prove invaluable when he plays Royal Portrush for the 20120 Irish Open n a few weeks - where no doubt Trainor will make amends.

McIlroy Crashes Out of BMW Championship

World Number One Rory McIlroy crashed out of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in spectacular fashion as England's James Morrison opened a four-shot lead at the halfway point following a stunning 64.

McIlroy endured his worst-ever tournament performance in Europe as he followed Thursday's disappointing 74 with an awful second round of 79 to miss the halfway cut by eight strokes.

That prompted a frank admission from the Northern Irishman who is just three weeks away from the defence of his US Open title.

"I think I might have taken my eye off the ball a bit," stated McIlroy after a round that included seven bogeys and two double-bogeys.

It is his second successive missed cut following his early exit from the Players Championship in Florida a fortnight ago and at nine-over-par he ended up an incredible 21 strokes behind runaway leader Morrison.

Before the wind got up world number 236 Morrison, who switched to golf after playing for the England youth cricket team alongside current Test stars Alastair Cook and Tim Bresnan, added a sparkling 64 to his opening 68.

At 12-under-par the 27-year-old moved four clear of world number two Luke Donald, who won the title at only six-under last year, and Scot David Drysdale.

Donald now needs only a top-eight finish to take the number one spot back off McIlroy in what would be the sixth change at the top in under three months.

"It's just a week I'd like to forget," added the 23-year-old McIlroy. "I just feel I've lacked competitive rounds and maybe just not practising as hard as I might have been.

"Maybe it's a good thing I have the next two days off to practise. Everything was not really on song. I just have to go and work hard and try to get it back."

McIlroy, whose week also included a club-throwing show of frustration that is likely to result in a European Tour fine, fell apart around the turn for the second day running.

One-under-par and inside the cut mark after seven holes, he double-bogeyed the next and then had five bogeys in a row.

A par at the short 14th was almost a cause for celebration - he had to get up and down from sand for that - but when he double-bogeyed the next after another bad drive only five players in the 150-strong field were below him.

It needed a two-putt birdie at the par five last for him to break 80, prompting him to comment: "I really wanted to make four. It's not nice to play like this and not nice two weeks (he meant tournament weeks) in a row."

His previous worst finish in Europe as a professional was 116th - in the same event three years ago when he followed a 74 with a 77.

Morrison had earlier jumped out of the shadows by following six birdies with a 25-foot eagle putt on the 539-yard last.

His story is a remarkable one. The 27-year-old did not start golf until he was 16, but went from 18-handicap to scratch in 10 months - prompting him to give up on cricket.

"I haven't really looked back," he said. "Playing golf is better than standing in the field all day!"

"I expect a lot, but if I shoot 80 or 65 I'll take what I can from it," he said. "I desperately, desperately, desperately want to keep going forward and that's my problem sometimes - I'm too eager, too keen, too determined I guess.

"I've been playing great, but been getting in the way of myself. I'm going to do my best and that's all I can do."

Donald remains the favourite for the title, however, after his second successive 68 which included five birdies and an eagle.

Open champion Darren Clarke crashed out as well - he has still to make a cut all year - and so did three-major winner Padraig Harrington and 2009 champion Paul Casey on his latest return from injury.

World number three Lee Westwood, out of bounds with his drive as he followed bogeys on the 15th and 16th with a double-bogey seven at the next, was in severe danger of missing the cut at that point.

But he got up and down from sand on the last for a birdie, a 75 and a one-over total that he knew was likely to be just good enough to survive to the weekend.

Irish Majors Suffer BMW Trouble

All four Irish Major winners are in trouble on day two of the BMW PGA Championship on the West Course at Wentworth, with Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke set to miss the cut by a significant tally. 

They will be joined by US Open champion Rory McIlroy who has made the turn in 37 shots after a costly double at the par four 8th hole. 

On four over par on the inward journey he now needs a birdie blitz to get inside level par and ensure a stays for the weekend – and also hang on to his world number one ranking. 

Also struggling is fellow Horizon Sports stable mate, Graeme McDowell,but  who is still within stroke or two of making the cut, after making the turn on +1. But with little chance of winning the tournament one imagines, and build on his good work at the Volvo Match play at Finca Cortesin,  with the club house lead posted at 12 under.

Shane Lowry also on plus one, looks to have missed the cut as well as he finished on one under overall .

Open Champion Darren Clarke missed another chance to kick start his season after coming home in 77 strokes on Friday. It now looks like the next scheduled event is the place where  momentum can happen for him, with the Irish Open looming in a few weeks at his home course at Royal Portrush. 

Not to mention the Open at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s, where he will be due to hand back the claret jug which he won in such style last July. So far that achievement has not added to his titles and seems to be a burden that has affected his game. 

Similarly, Padraig Harrington is battling out the last few holes having reached plus eight after a disastrous opening day. The talk of Wentworth being the place to build on the good work he has been doing over pre-season has proved premature. So it will be an early flight back to Weston Aerodrome on Friday night for three time major winner. 

Across the cut line the news is better and the names are perhaps less renown. 

One of the two Irish PGA professionals is looking assured, as former European Challenge Tour player, David Higgins, is tipping around Wentworth safely on 3 under as he cleared the seventeenth green. A vast improvement on his last two visits where he missed the cut through one or two costly wayward shots. 

Barrie Trainor is level par having just teed off and dropped a shot after a bogey on the first. 

Paul McGinley is also level par having signed for a second day 71 and should be safely through to Saturday's pairings. 

Damien McGrane is one under and completed his Friday round in level par 72. 

Michael Hoey is still on course and by the seventh had claimed two birdies to help make up for the two doubles he carded on the back none in round 1. Now, at one under the Hassan II Trophy winner is moving in the right direction. 

Gareth Maybin has moved in the same direction with a front nine completed in 33 strokes  contributing to his success. An eagle then on the twelfth saved the damage from a bogey on the previous hole, and after the sixteenth is 2 under – but with a colourful card. 

But it is at the top of the leader board where Peter Lawrie drives the Irish challenge ending the first two days five shots off the leader - in a share of 4th place with only two blemishes over the two rounds on the final stretch on Friday - for a 71. He has been leapfrogged by a couple of players, including Luke Donald who signed for a 68 to share third place with David Dryable on -8. 

All chasing leader James Morrison on 12 under after a round of 64. 

Lawrie Maintains Friday Momentum

Peter Lawrie continued to set the pace in the early stages of the BMW PGA Championship second round at Wentworth on Friday, and share lead with David Drysdale of Scotland - only to see James Morrison outpace them after he carded five birdies by the 12th hole.

The pair started with six under par rounds of 66 and were back on the course before 8am on another glorious morning.

Drysdale, 291st in the world, bogeyed the first, but came back with birdies at the fourth and fifth.

Lawrie, ranked 212th, also picked up a birdie at the long fourth and at seven under they were a stroke ahead of Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and Italian Francesco Molinari.

Donaldson, still seeking his first European Tour victory after more than 250 starts, recovered from an opening bogey with an eagle at the 552-yard fourth, while recent Spanish Open winner Molinari birdied the first two holes and Quiros showed he was not all about big-hitting by holing from 18 feet on the short second.

He was playing with World Number Two Luke Donald and World Number Ten Justin Rose. Donald hit his opening drive into a bunker and bogeyed, but then holed from 14 feet on the next to return to four under, while Rose remained five under.

World Number One Rory McIlroy and third-ranked Lee Westwood were among the later starters. They stood two under and two over respectively.

Drysdale's third birdie in four holes came on the 391 yard eighth, but it was only moments before Lawrie joined him again with a three at the 418 yard sixth.

Rose, who feared he might have to pull out before the start on Thursday because of dizziness, matched the Dubliner's birdies on the fourth and sixth and at seven under was up into a tie for third with Quiros and Molinari, but Donaldson, joint leader after a two at the short fifth, bogeyed two of the next three.

Donald continued to lurk menacingly. He picked up more shots on the fourth and fifth to stand six under and joint sixth, while 48 year old three-time winner Colin Montgomerie was not doing badly either. He was another to birdie the fourth and that took him to four under.

McIlroy May Yet Face Tour Sanction

Rory McIlroy struggled on day one of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, carding a two-over 74 and could also face punishment after throwing a club.

Scot Drysdale and Ireland's Lawrie shot rounds of 66 to lead by one from a group including England's Justin Rose and Wales' Jamie Donaldson.

Second-ranked Luke Donald shot 68 as world number three Lee Westwood had 70.

McIlroy, who missed the cut at the Players Championship two weeks ago, mixed an eagle and three birdies with a double bogey and five bogeys.

Bjorn clashes with authority

The US Open champion, who began last year's event with a 76 but recovered to finish in a tie for 24th, put his approach at the 12th out of bounds and after hitting a wayward shot with his provisional ball, angrily hurled his club to the ground.

"It was a bit of deja vu from last year," he said. "I was two-under through seven holes and feeling like I was playing well. But then I made four bogeys in five holes so it's pretty disappointing. I feel like I am playing well, I just need to go out there and shoot the score."

Tournament director David Garland issued a statement regarding the McIlroy club throwing incident and said: "I have not yet had the chance to view the incident, but I will be requesting a tape.

"If any breach of the Tour's guidelines on course etiquette is found, then appropriate action will be taken in due course."

Two Macs in BMW Sixes

World number one Rory McIlroy found himself six strokes behind after the first day of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, with fellow US Open winner, Graeme McDowell, in the same position after being give a two-stroke penalty on the final hole.

McIlroy’s two-over-par 74 included going out of bounds “by an inch” at the long 12th; something that was followed by him throwing a club in what he called “a release of frustration.”

McDowell fell foul of the rules after going into the bushes. 

First the ball moved a fraction as he approached it and because he did not replace it — the incident was caught on television — a second shot was handed to him by European Tour chief referee John Paramor afterwards.

Playing partner Lee Westwood, who came back from an early double bogey to card a 70, called it harsh, but McDowell said after signing for a triple-bogey eight on the hole: “It’s my fault. I probably should have called for a referee.

“That would have saved me one shot, but what are you supposed to do — the whole area was sort of bouncing. I was aware of it and asked for it to be looked at. The rules are there for everybody’s protection.”

McIlroy opened with a 76 last year — that put him 12 adrift of eventual winner Luke Donald — and said: “It was a bit of deja vu. Four bogeys in five holes around the turn was very disappointing. I feel like I’m playing pretty well and I’ve just got to go and shoot the scores.”

On the shot which went out of bounds, he added: “I just tried to cut it and double-crossed it. There are four par fives and you feel you should be taking advantage of them and three or four under should be the worst you do.”

He did eagle the 552-yard fourth and was one under after seven, but then the round got away from him. Padraig Harrington suffered even more en route to signing for a four over, 76. The Irishman bogeyed the first and then ran up a triple bogey six at the par three, second. He managed three birdies but also the same number of birdies on a frustrating morning.

Michael Hoey was three under at one stage during his round but a brace of double bogeys over the closing stretch saw him sign for a one over, 73. 

There was better news for his compatriot Gareth Maybin who compiled a two under 70.

Darren Clarke was one under after five holes with Paul McGinley level having played just two. 

Lawrie Makes Fast BMW Start

Peter Lawrie is off to a flyer at the BWM PGA Championship after an eagle at the fourth , and birdies on the second, fifth, sixth and eleventh on the West Course, to set the pace on Thursday at 6 under par as he came off the thirteenth green.

Earlier it had been Ernie Els, carding a four under par 68 on the opening morning, who had finished part of a four-way tie for the clubhouse lead.

The South African, charged with toughening up the West Course at Wentworth Club in recent years after winning seven Match Play titles at the venue, reached six under through 13 holes but bogeyed the 14th and 15th.

He was joined on four under by compatriot George Coetzee, Scotland’s Marc Warren, England’s Robert Rock and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger.

World Number One Rory McIlroy found himself six strokes behind after a two over par 74 which included going out of bounds "by an inch" at the long 12th.

McIlroy opened with a 76 last year - that put him 12 adrift of eventual winner Luke Donald - and said: "It was a bit of deja vu.

"Four bogeys in five holes around the turn was very disappointing. I feel like I'm playing pretty well and I've just got to go and shoot the scores."

Out on the course, Ireland's Peter Lawrie was off to a real flyer - an eagle at the fourth like McIlroy and birdies on the second, fifth and sixth to be five under and leader by one.

Defending champion Luke Donald was among the later starters as he tried to join Sir Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie as the only men to retain the trophy.

Lawrie remained five under to the turn, which he reached in just 30 strokes, and although Donald birdied three of the first six playing partner Justin Rose was going even better.

Maybin Starts BMW PGA Championship

Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin struck the first tee shot of the BMW PGA Championship at precisely 7am on what promises to be a glorious opening day on Wentworth's West Course.

With a number of marquee pairings lined up throughout the day there will be plenty for spectators to enjoy with the likes of McIlroy, Westwood, Manassero, McDowell and Els taking to the course in the morning while Donald, Rose, Kaymer, Casey and Colsaerts are set to follow in the afternoon part of the draw.

South African George Coetzee moved into an early lead birdied three of the first four holes to be one in front of England's 2010 champion Simon Khan, Scotland’s Marc Warren, Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell and seven-time winner at Wentworth Ernie Els.

World Number One Rory McIlroy was off to a slow start with a bogey at the second but the Northern Irishman then eagled the long fourth to move to one under.

Third-ranked Lee Westwood, meanwhile, scrambled well for two opening pars, but went long and left with his approach to the 465 yard third and by three-putting ran up a double bogey six.

He was back on the course where he lost a play-off and the World Number One spot to Luke Donald a year ago.

Donald, trying to follow Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie as the only players to make a successful defence of the title, was among the later starters on day one.

McIlroy, playing in Europe as World Number One for the first time, was paired with Els and Martin Laird.

Els, the man who has toughened up the West Course, made a 12 foot birdie putt at the second, but US-based Scot Laird set off on his debut in the championship with two bogeys.

Coetzee lost top spot to Scot Marc Warren when he eagled the 531 yard 12th - back as a par five this year.

Live Leader board