This week marks the return of Masters champion Danny Willett to United Kingdom soil, though the Green Jacket holder will not be joined by World No.3 and last weekend’s Irish Open victor, Rory McIlroy, who has not entered.
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Italy’s Francesco Molinari plays a shot during the first round of the PGA Championship at Wentworth golf club, Virginia Water, England, Thursday May 26, 2016.
Now…while there have been a few big name dropouts from this year’s event due to the hectic global nature of a top tour player’s schedule, there is still plenty to shout about heading to Wentworth for what is always one of the most entertaining weeks on the European Tour calendar. “So I thought I d just be a little bit cautious and a bit more aggressive into the greens. So there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be playing well and scoring well this week, really”. Hend was out in 31 and had a chance of going even lower but he could only par the final two holes, both par-fives although his birdie putt lipped out at the last from 35 feet (10 metres).
Willett said: “I played great most of the day and then chucked a couple of horrid golf shots in there”. The 28-year-old was pragmatic about his brush with officialdom.
“There’s a long three more days to go but I’m comfortable wherever I’m playing, whether I’m running last or whether I’m running first”.
“There’s obviously a lot of points up for grabs and this is an event I’ve had some previous success at and feel comfortable at”, he said.
Let’s take a look at this week’s event, the players competing, and who we think will do well on the West Course at Wentworth… I composed myself quite nicely.
Australia’s Richard Green, England’s Robert Rock and South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl were two shots off the pace, with former world number one Luke Donald delighted with an opening 68.
“It got me into a lot of events and boosted my confidence that I could compete and got me good results in The Final Series previous year”.
Another Korean, Jin Jeong had a nightmare start to his week when he triple-bogeyed the par-four first, followed up with a double-bogey six at the third and further dropped shots left him at nine-over par after 10 holes.
Yang, who beat Tiger Woods in the 2009 US PGA Championship, was the last to join the group at the top of the leaderboard when he got up and down from a bunker on the par-five 18th to finish on 10-under par 134 for the 36 holes.
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Compatriot and defending champion Byeong Hun An had held the early lead when he carded four birdies in succession from the fourth, only to bogey the ninth and cover the back nine in 40 to card a level-par 72. I don’t think that my foot is ever going to feel the same and that’s something that I’m going to have to deal with.
