Donald in career-best form

Luke Donald's seven-under-par 64 sees him lead the BMW PGA Championship after an interrupted opening day at the Wentworth Club. Marcus Fraser was the best of the Aussies on day one, finishing with a one-under 70 through his 18 holes, as a lightning delay at the European Tour event left a handful of rounds incomplete. English world No.2 Donald is the leader in the clubhouse, ahead of a two-way tie for second between Matteo Manassero and Johan Edfors.

With incumbent Lee Westwood struggling, Donald is well placed to claim top spot in the world rankings if he remains in contention throughout the tournament.Italian Manassero and Swede Edfors both carded five-under 66s in Surrey, England. Another Swede, Oscar Floren, holds outright fourth at four under, but has only completed 14 holes of his opening round. A shot further back, in a tie for fifth, are Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara, Welshman Bradley Dredge and Englishmen Ross McGowan and Ian Poulter. Leader Donald made a solid start with three consecutive pars, before holing four birdies in six holes to reach the turn four under for the round. There was more of the same on the back nine, with four birdies and just one bogey - his only dropped shot of the day - helping him post an impressive seven under.

World No.1 Westwood struggled to a one-over 72. German Martin Kaymer - third in the rankings behind Donald - fared even worse, with a three-over 74. Their struggles leave the path open for Donald to claim top spot at Westwood's expense.

"That was probably one of the best rounds I've ever played to be honest," Donald said.
"It was tough conditions out there - the wind was swirling, there was some rain showers, and this isn't an easy course in the best of conditions."
"So to pretty much have total control of the golf ball today doesn't happen very often in golf but that's how I felt today."
"I was just seeing the shots and I was able to hit them. So it was very, very satisfactory today - very, very pleasing."
The Players Championship at Sawgrass has long been considered golf's 'fifth major', but with the world's top three players competing at Wentworth this year, Donald said the European PGA would soon be a rival for that title.
"It's certainly getting close to that. I think Sawgrass has always been considered the fifth major in the past, it's always had a great field," Donald said.
"But looking at this field, it rivals that for sure. If you judge it by strength of field then I think the gap is closing significantly, if not has been
closed."