VIRGINIA WATER, England – Unfancied pair Peter Lawrie and David Drysdale left an exasperated Rory McIlroy and his high-ranking rivals trailing by shooting 6-under 66s to share the first-round lead at the BMW PGA Championship Thursday.
Playing his first event in Europe in seven months, McIlroy was so frustrated during his round of 74 that he threw his club to the ground in despair at one point, leaving the world’s top-ranked player at risk of being fined by the European Tour.
The Northern Irishman is eight shots off the lead, with Lawrie hitting four birdies and an eagle in an error-free round and Drysdale benefiting from a stroke of good fortune at No. 18 to climb to the top of the leaderboard.
His second shot found the water in front of the green but bounced off the rocks below the surface and back onto the fairway. Not quite believing his luck, Drysdale chipped on and drained his birdie putt.
“You can hit 1,000 balls in the water and never have that happen,” said the Scot, ranked No. 291. “There must have been a foot of water before it hit the rock.”
Luke Donald, who will supplant McIlroy at the top of the rankings by successfully defending his title here, is in a large group two shots back after a 68. No. 3 Lee Westwood is also lurking after shooting 70 in calm and gloriously sunny conditions.
McIlroy wasn’t the only Northern Irishman left fuming on a day of low scoring on the West Course compared to 12 months ago, when Donald won with a 6-under total.
Graeme McDowell ended up with a 74 as a result of an unfortunate 8 on the par-5 last, when he was docked two shots after his ball moved as he approached it while in the trees to the right of the fairway.
Justin Rose of England is in a cluster of five players on five-under, along with Alvaro Quiros of Spain, Jamie Donaldson of Wales and Swedish pair Niclas Fasth and Richard S. Johnson.
Ernie Els used his knowledge of a course he helped redesign in 2010.
Former winner Paul Casey and 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell both shot 6 over and are the biggest names at the wrong end of the standings. — AP
