Chowrasia tied third at BMW PGA Championships

WENTWORTH - The new look Wentworth Club West Course seemed to go down well with Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia, who Thursday played one of his best rounds on the European Tour to come back with a four-under 67 in the first round of the BMW PGA Championship. With a few players still to come, Chowrasia was still tied third and three behind leader Danny Willett of England.

Chowrasia, who is often nicknamed chip-putt Chowrasia lived up to his name as he chipped in for birdie at the third and picked up further shots at the fourth and fifth, said: “I’m playing very well today because I holed a few chips and a few putts, which is good. (On) these greens, actually line reading is very easy compared to the old greens. That’s why I’m playing well.”

Chowrasia had four birdies on front nine and one more on back nine, but he also gave away bogey on the 11th hole on the back nine.

India’s other challengers had contrasting fortunes. Shiv Kapur struggled to a eight-over 79 and will have a herculean task making the weekend rounds. Jyoti Randhawa was still on the course at two-over after 11 holes.

Willett carded nine birdies to take the clubhouse lead. There were three bogeys as well, but a six under 65 gave the 22 year old Yorkshireman a one shot advantage over Richard Green.

Ernie Els, who was hired by the Surrey club to make extensive changes, came a cropper at the new 18th. Three under par on the tee and sharing the first round lead at the time, Els hit his three wood second shot into the ditch that now curls round the green. The South African walked off with a bogey six while playing partner Ross Fisher, who chose to lay up, birdied it for a four under 67.

Willett led by a shot from Australian left-hander Green and by two from Fisher, Scot Richie Ramsay, Indian Chowrasia and Dane Søren Kjeldsen.