bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

World number one Rory McIlroy was left frustrated as Italy’s Francesco Molinari headed the leaderboard at the end of the first day of the European PGA Championship at Wentworth on Thursday.
Molinari carded a seven-under-par 65 with no bogeys, finishing with a flourish with birdies at the 17th and 18th – both par-fives – to leave himself two shots in front of Sweden’s Robert Karlsson and six in front of McIlroy, who had a 71.
Karlsson is a shot in front of a clutch of players on four-under including 2008 winner Miguel Angel Jimenez, another Spaniard in Jorge Campillo, England’s Chris Wood and Korea’s Yang Yong-eun.
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn shot a 69 whilst Luke Donald, triumphant in 2012 and 2013, had a steady 70 to keep himself in the hunt.
Molinari hinted at a return to form with a tie for second place at the Spanish Open last week but he tumbled out of the world top 50 last October and currently stands 66th in the rankings.
I felt like I left a couple out there. There’s definitely room for improvement
Rory McIlroy
The 32-year-old needs a good finish to boost his chances of playing in the US Open in June, where the top 60 in the world on Monday get exemptions and July’s British Open at St Andrews where the top 50 are granted automatic spots.
“I know that the deadline for the US Open and The Open are close and it would mean a lot to have a good week here,” Molinari said. “All season, I’ve been pretty much just outside the top 50, knowing that a good week would get me in again.
“Dropping out of the top 50 didn’t help because it means I need to play more events. I missed the Masters this year and a few majors in a row. So it wasn’t a nice feeling, and I hope to be back very soon.”
McIlroy, fresh from his win at Quail Hollow in the United States last week, had started with a bogey at the par-four first and was never better than one under par and could not manage a birdie on the two closing par-fives.
“I felt like I left a couple out there. There’s definitely room for improvement,” said McIlroy.
McIlroy is following a relentless schedule, flying into London from the United States on Monday, attending the European Tour’s Players’ Awards dinner on Tuesday night and playing his fourth of five tournaments in as many weeks.
And the Northern Irishman was aiming to put his feet up after venting his frustrations on the course during his first round.
“Mentally I feel myself getting a bit angry out there, which I haven’t been doing the last few weeks,” he said.
“I just sort of need to stay in control of my emotions because I feel like that’s one of the things, if I’m a little tired or a little fatigued mentally, I’ll start to be hard on myself and start to get down on myself. I will try not to do that over the next few days.”
Molinari’s brother, Edoardo, retired with a wrist injury after playing 16 holes in eight over par and three-time major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland lasted two holes before walking off with shoulder trouble.


Francesco Molinari overshadows Rory McIlroy on opening day of European PGA Championship

Italy's Francesco Molinari watches his drive from the 18th tee. Photo: AFP

 Rory McIlroy on his way to a round of 71. Photo: Reuters

Sport