Luke Donald’s quest to become World Number One got off to the perfect start at Wentworth Club as he raced into an early lead at the BMW PGA Championship.
The Englishman, beaten by Ian Poulter in the Volvo World Match Play Championship final last Sunday to deny him top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking, raced to six under par with two to play on a wet and windy opening morning.
That was one ahead of three-time BMW PGA Championship winner Colin Montgomerie, the Scot rekindling his love affair with the West Course as he progressed to five under with four to play.
There was then a two shot gap back to England’s Ross McGowan, already round in 68, and Italian teen sensation Matteo Manassero.
Needing to finish ahead of Lee Westwood to leapfrog his compatriot in the rankings, things were looking good for the WGC-Accenture Match Play winner with his rival one over with three to play.
Martin Kaymer, also in the equation to be World Number One at the end of the week, was amongst the afternoon starters along with Masters Tournament champion Charl Schwartzel, and Ryder Cup stars Miguel Angel Jiménez, Ian Poulter and Francesco Molinari.
At 462nd in the Official World Golf Ranking after almost three years without a top-ten finish, the 47 year old Scot birdied five of the first eight holes and turned in just 30 shots.
Although two bogeys then came in the next three holes he also produced further birdies on the 11th and 13th, a 25 footer there taking him back to five under.
Donald was gathering momentum as he had six birdies and just one dropped shot in his first 13 holes.
Last year's runner-up made his only mistake at the 480 yard 12th, pulling his approach into the trees and being forced to chip out sideways.
Montgomerie used to talk of being "one up" on the first tee of the West Course, such was his record - three successive victories in The European Tour's flagship event just over a decade ago and a World Match Play victory as well.
But he has had nothing better than a 26th-place finish this season and on the next two Mondays is involved in qualifying competitions for both the US Open Championship and The Open Championship.
Winning this weekend could save him from the second of those, however - it would give him a three-year Open Championship exemption.
Montgomerie bogeyed the 15th, but when Donald birdied the 16th and 17th - the hole he took seven on last year when he was joint leader with two to play - he was seven under and three clear of the field.
