Bjorn storms ahead at rainy Wentworth
Print Edition
DENMARK’S Thomas Bjorn rolled back the years with a course record-equalling 62 to take the early lead in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth yesterday.
The 43-year old played the back nine in 30, 7-under par, and finished with eight birdies and an eagle to equal Robert Karlsson’s mark set back in 2010.
Karlsson’s 62 was against a par of 71, rather than the current 72, and Bjorn’s score is the lowest ever opening round in the 60-year history of the tournament — the European Tour’s flagship event.
South Africa’s Justin Walters was safely in the clubhouse with a 5-under 67, before torrential rain caused play to be suspended.
England’s David Horsey was also in with a 68 whilst Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Germany’s Marcel Siem were the closest to Bjorn, both at 6-under the card with three and four holes to play respectively.
Bjorn went out in 32 making birdies on the second, fifth and seventh before catching fire around the turn. He played the first three holes of the back nine in just eight shots with a sequence of birdie, birdie, eagle before finally having to settle for par at the par-4 13th.
The Dane finished with a flourish making a four at the par-5 18th for the lowest opening of his European Tour career and his lowest round of the season so far.
Bjorn used to live at Wentworth but has had scant success in this tournament so far. His best finish was fifth back in 1998 but his local knowledge finally paid dividends.
Bjorn said: “To step out on this course of all courses and play like I did today was surprising. It was just one of those days where you walk off the course and think I want to keep playing.”
Rory McIlory, who split with tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki on Wednesday, was one of the afternoon starters playing alongside Ernie Els and Jamie Donaldson of Wales.
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