World No. 1 Rory McIlroy found himself upstaged by World No. 51 Jamie Donaldson of Wales on the opening day of the BMW Masters in Shanghai.
Donaldson, who turned 37 a week ago, posted a new course record of a 10-under par 62 on the Lake Malaren course.
Donaldson, who earlier this year ended a 10 ½ winless drought to capture his first victory in winning the Irish Open, needed just 24 putts to better the previous record by a shot.
Sweden’s Peter Hanson hits into the final green, with the stunning on course Crowne Plaza Hotel in the background, on route to a share of second on the first day of the 2012 BMW Masters. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
“I just played great all day, I mean I played great from the word ‘go’,” he said.
“I just felt I was properly zoned in. Just felt really relaxed all day and it was very relaxed atmosphere, good fun playing with (Darren) Clarke, as well.”
Donaldson arrived in the Chinese financial capital lying just one spot outside the top-50 on the World Rankings and while looking for a second Tour victory, has also set his sights on a first-ever appearance in the Masters.
If he ends the year inside the top-50 Donaldson will receive an invitation to compete on the famed Augusta National course.
At this stage, the 37-year old Donaldson will qualify for February’s WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship in Arizona for being inside the top-64.
“I’ve only ever played three times in the States and they were all this year, the Wyndham Championship, the Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship,” he said.
“But it would be a great Christmas present to know that I will be playing in the Masters next year.
“It would be quite sensational but I need to stay in the present and just keep crossing each bridge as it comes.”
And Donaldson hinted he is considering joining a number of fellow European Tour members looking to attend the PGA Tour School later this year.
The Ryder Cup winning pair of Sweden’s Peter Hanson and Italy’s Francesco Molinari are next best with scores of six under par 66s.
McIlroy along with fellow Northern Irishman Michael Hoey plus Europe’s victorious winning captain, Jose Maria Olazabal are tied in fourth place on five under par.
McIlroy was level-pegging all day with playing partner and Race to Dubai nearest rival, Justin Rose before holing a three-foot birdie after a 144-yard 9-iron shot into the last and finish one stroke fewer than the Orlando-based Brit.
“It was a great way to finish but then I prepared well for this week having worked all last week with my coach Michael (Bannon) out in the States and it was definitely a whole lot better than out in Turkey,” he said.
“So I would not read into what I did in Turkey as that was more of a holiday, and I very much had my tournament face back on today.”
However McIlroy complained of a headache in the later stages of his round and blaming it on the heavily polluted nature of one of China’s biggest cities.
“I started to get a bit of a headache on the back nine and that’s because of all the factories and stuff around here, so we’re not breathing in the cleanest air,” he said.
“But then a good night’s sleep tonight and I should be okay for tomorrow.”
And Olazabal, in his second tournament since the Ryder Cup, returned to form and recording his best first day score in four years in a bogey-free round.
“It’s great to shoot a low round and while the driver was the weakest link, the rest of the game was pretty sharp,” said the Spaniard.
“Also I feel some freedom now the Ryder Cup is behind me and it’s been a tough year-and-a-half, a lot of things on my mind, decisions to make, meetings to attend.
“So I’m really glad that it’s over. So now it’s fun time.”
It was Olazabal’s best first round in a Race to Dubai event since a 66 on day one of the 2008 Castellon Masters.
