– No French player has qualified or been chosen to play in the upcoming Ryder Cup at Bethpage. Unfortunately for them, this is hardly news. Only three have managed it since 1979, and all on just one occasion: Van de Velde, Levet, and Dubuisson. In defiance, their collective start at the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth, where the Ryder team is almost complete, has been remarkable. Shortly after half-past two in the afternoon, Spanish time, play was suspended due to a thunderstorm. At that very moment, we had Tom Vaillant (-8) as the tournament leader, with Antoine Rozner (-6), Jeong Weon Ko (-4), and Martin Couvra (-4) within the top 10. Like the Spaniards in Ireland a week ago, but in British style. We’ll see how far they can go. For now, these four have finished and are already at the top.
– A handful of good news for Luke Donald. Ludvig Aberg (-7) is one shot off the lead and still has to complete the 18th hole with the ball perfectly placed in the middle of the fairway. It’s a par 5. It’s a splendid birdie opportunity. Matt Fitzpatrick (-7) is tied with Aberg, although the Englishman is in trouble on the 18th. We’ll see if his ball is playable to the right of the 18th or if he has to play the provisional. With a birdie opportunity on that 18th hole, Justin Rose (-5) has headed to the clubhouse. Another magnificent start. The worst news is for Tommy Fleetwood (PAR), in the water on the 18th. He will have to do very well from the drop zone not to finish the day over par. It seems the Englishman is still feeling the effects of the FedEx Cup Final. It makes sense, although it would be unusual if he doesn’t recover tomorrow with a great round.
– It hasn’t been the best start for the Spaniards. Not a disaster either. The conditions, with the rain that fell in the previous days, have been very favourable. Lots of birdies. Ángel Ayora (-2) is two shots off the top 10, although it’s likely he’ll end up a bit further away by the end of the day. The finish for the man from Malaga was a shame. He reached the 18th hole, a par 5 where many birdies are made, with a score of -3. However, he made a bogey after missing a very short putt. An abrupt finish also for Iván Cantero (PAR). The Asturian, highly praised today by Rafa Cabrera Bello in the Bola Provisional, managed to get to four under par in the most difficult stretch of the course. However, a lost ball on the 17th and two more bogeys on the 15th and 16th derailed his round. In play near the end were Eugenio Chacarra (-3), the best potential round for the Spaniards in Wentworth right now, as he still has the two par 5s left, and Ángel Hidalgo (PAR).
– Jon Rahm (+1) has just started the round with two birdie opportunities that he failed to convert on holes 1 and 2 and a very short missed par putt on the 3rd.
– The disappointment of the first day has been, as in Ireland, Brooks Koepka (+3). It is the worst round delivered so far, tied with Thomas Aiken and Gavin Green.
