Paul McGinley's bid to retain his Ryder Cup place and show he was right to resign as an assistant captain was given a massive boost at Wentworth today when he opened the BMW PGA Championship with a sparkling seven under par 65.
Not dropping a shot all day McGinley took a three-stroke lead over South African Charl Schwartzel, who still has two holes to play. He birdied the fourth and ninth to turn in 33, then picked up further strokes on the 10th, 12th, 14th and two closing par fives.
Victory on Sunday for the man who was runner-up to Angel Cabrera three years ago would bring him almost £600,000 and could send him flying up the Ryder Cup standings from 33rd to sixth. He said: "It's a real proper test of golf here when it's playing fast like this and I relish that. I love the challenge.
"For me it's more fun. I like to be challenged on course management and ball control. Everybody says 7,500 yards is the future and they talk about Tiger-proofing, but they are playing into his hands doing that. I feel there's a lot of good golf left in me and that's why I stood down as an assistant captain. I don't want to be seen in an administrative role."
England's Paul Casey, back on the course where he became World Match Play champion in 2006, was going well too at three under after 15, but some of the other big names were struggling.
World No3 Ernie Els double-bogeyed the 401-yard eighth as he turned in a four over 39, but did at least birdie the 11th and 12th, to finish with a 75. While compatriot Retief Goosen and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn both finished a shot behind him on 76.
