Sweden’s Johan Carlsson set the pace on the opening day of the BMW PGA Championship, taking advantage of Wentworth’s new greens to knock in eight birdies in an impressive six under par round of 66.
Carlsson made a blistering start, reaching the turn in just 30 shots courtesy of five birdies on the front nine, and he picked up three more shots on way in, although his back nine was bookended by bogeys on the tenth and 18th holes.
“It was fun today,” he said. “It’s a big event this year, and you kind of feel it with the atmosphere. Everything is big around this tournament, and obviously you want to do well. The greens are so good. I love this golf course right now. I think it has become so much better, and I think a lot of other players probably agree with me as well on that point.”
Carlsson holds a one shot advantage over Francesco Molinari, Scott Jamieson and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, while Carlsson’s compatriot Henrik Stenson, is one of nine players a further shot back on four under par after a bogey-free 68, with all four of his birdies arriving on the back nine.
Ross Fisher and Shane Lowry, both of whom have previously finished runner-up in the BMW PGA Championship, are also among that group, along with Thomas Pieters, who bogeyed the closing hole after the club slipped from his hand.
Among those already struggling to make the cut are 2012 winner Luke Donald, who is three over par following a 75, while Ian Poulter, who received a late invitation to take part, is currently four over. British Masters winner Thorbjorn Olsen was cruising at level par after 15 holes, but finished the round bogey, quadruple bogey, bogey to finish on six over par and will be fight to make the weekend.
A crowd of 20,692 – the second largest Thursday crowd in the 62-year history of the tournament – watched the opening round.