England’s Danny Willett got off to another fast start on the European Tour, shooting a six-under-par 66 to be a stroke behind a trio of leaders after the first round of the BMW PGA Championship on Thursday.
South Korea’s Y.E. Yang, Australia’s Scott Hend and the Netherland’s Joost Luiten shared the lead on a day of low scoring in perfect conditions at the tour’s headquarters at Wentworth.
Willett, the only member of the world’s top 20 competing in the tournament, was the first-round leader at the Irish Open last week, but was eventually reeled in by Ireland’s Rory McIlory, and closed with a final-round 77. Playing in front of his home fans for the first time since winning at Augusta, the Englishman fed off their encouragement.
“Last week in Ireland was fantastic, but a little bit more support out there being a home boy in England,” Willett said after his bogey-free round. “Great reception all the way around. You’ve got to appreciate that and enjoy it, and hopefully, touch wood, give them some good golf to watch.”
Defending champion An Byeong-hun of South Korea held the early lead when he rolled in four straight birdies from No. 4. He covered the back nine in 40 to shoot an even-par 72 and was overshadowed by another South Korean.
Yang, who won the US PGA Championship in 2009 after chasing down Tiger Woods in the final round, made a bogey on the opening hole and reacted by rolling in eight birdies — including on Nos. 17 and 18.
With Lee Soo-min winning the Shenzhen International and Wang Jeung-hun getting back-to-back wins in Morocco and Mauritius, South Korean golfers are seeking their fourth victory in the last six events on the European Tour.
“More are playing good [and] maybe better than me and K.J. [Choi],” Yang said. “Different players, and more and more good players are coming.”
A conservative approach paid off for Hend, who had eight birdies and a bogey on No. 15. The Australian won his second European Tour title in Thailand in March.
Luiten rolled in nine birdies to bounce back impressively from rounds of 75 and 80 in Ireland.
Australia’s Richard Green, England’s Robert Rock and South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl were two shots off the lead after 67s.
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