Dubliner Peter Lawrie had fellow Irishman and out-going European Tour CEO George O’Grady to thank for a three-under par 69 to lead the big contingent of Irish on the opening day of the BMW PGA Championship.
Lawrie superbly recovered from a third hole double bogey to complete the remaining 15 holes in five under par in a score of a three under par 69.
It left the affable Irishman trailing just four shots behind Italy’s Francesco Molinari who posted a sizzling seven under par 65.
Dubliner Peter Lawrie heads the big contingent of Irish contesting this week’s BMW PGA Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
And after gaining the support of McIlroy in securing invitations earlier in the year, it was out-going European Tour CEO and fellow Irishman, George O’Grady who stepped forward to present Lawrie with a Wentworth tee time.
“I was competing in a Special Olympics day at the PGA Catalunya Club in Spain Monday last week and I passed Paul McGinley and he mentioned to me I was in this week, and then I got a text message from George (O’Grady) confirming the news,” he said.
“At that time I had no chance of getting into this week so it wasn’t looking good.
“Then it’s just panic stations about flight over, accommodation, when am I going to get here. I hadn’t been home for a week and a bit and I’m going to do US Open qualifying, do I go home for a night and fly back out.”
“This is my 13th in a BMW PGA Championship in a row so it would have been disappointing to miss it but I’m delighted to be here and feel very lucky to be here.
“And you want to be here as this is the biggest one, Euro 5m, and if you play well in this one you’re on your way to getting your card back and that’s what I’m here for.”
Fellow Dubliner and BMW PGA invitee Niall Kearney, and with good friend and former Dublin footballer Stephen Wade acting as caddy, posted a level par 72 and in his first appearance in the event.
However Kearney hasn’t been as fortunate getting into next week’s Irish Open and instead will travel the 16,600 KLM round trip to Bangladesh to contest the Asian Tour’s Bangladesh Open.
