Danny Willett of England finished day one with a 65 and held his nerve despite a dropped shot on the 15th hole to recover with three consecutive birdies on 16, 17 and 18 to lead the European Tours flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth by one shot from Australian Richard Green on day one.
Padraig Harrington, who had been in the chase with Danny Millett and Ernie Els for most of the day then fell back after triple bogey at the 17th and signed for a level par round of 71 –having made the turn in a three under par 32.
Ernie Els ended the day on 2 under after dropping a shot on the 18th.
Gareth Maybin continues his good form unfazed by the field at Wentworth and returned to his hotel on Thursday night in an eight way tie for 7th place having also made the turn in 32 shots but then completing the round on the back nine on level par - matching birdies with bogeys.
Graeme McDowell finished his round on 1 under carding three birdies and two bogeys on day one for a 71.
Peter Lawrie signed for a one under par recovering from mistakes at 5 and 16 with three birdies to sign for a 70.
Paul McGinley remains level overnight having failed to pick up shots after matching three birdies with 3 bogeys.
Damien McGrane went through the redesigned West Course in two under having made it to the 15th level with any mistakes corrected with birdies. Then two birdies on 16 and 17 gave the Kells man a two under par finish for the day and some momentum ahead of Friday.
Shane Lowry returned to Wentworth after his first appearance last year and signed for a one over par round with two dropped shots on the back nine erasing the birdie he picked up on the 2nd hole.
Rory McIlroy, saw his day hit trouble when a triple bogey on 11 added to his three bogeys on the front nine as he made the turn in 38. But two birdies on 16 and 17 left him on 3 over for day one.
Darren Clarke was unable to break the cycle of recent weeks on the European tour finishing with a four over round having double bogeyed the third hole.
Michael Hoey had a triple on 17 and a double bogey on the redesigned 18th and signed for a four over round of 75.
David Higgins of Waterville returned to the fray of the European Tour after an absence and found trouble on the 11th with a double bogey and then quadrupled the 15th to leave him fighting for weekend playing rights on 9 over.
Defending champion Paul Casey of England was one over par after round one.
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