Masters champion Danny Willett opened with a six-under-par 66 at the BMW PGA Championship on Thursday afternoon. His round was one shot shy of clubhouse leaders Scott Hend and Y.E. Yang who were joined by Joost Luiten after shooting 65 in favourable conditions.
The Englishman’s round was flawless as he went around the Wentworth Club course, collecting six birdies and no bogeys. The 28-year-old was cheered on by an excited home crowd and delivered for all in attendance. The world number nine’s round was of the ilk seen last week, in the first round at the Irish Open. The crowds at Wentworth Club will hope that Willett follows through with four good rounds rather than falter on the weekend as he did last week at the K Club.
Dutchman Joost Luiten joined the clubhouse lead after shooting a seven-under-par 65. The 30-year-old dropped shots at the first and 16th but had joy elsewhere on the course. The four-time European Tour winner racked up a staggering nine birdies to be in a tie for the lead of the BMW PGA Championship after the first round.
The top South African in the field is Jaco van Zyl on five-under-par, followed by Thomas Aiken who is at one-under-par.
