Kingston leads, McIlroy in Wentworth woe

WENTWORTH, United Kingdom (AFP) –

James Kingston of South Africa follows his drive from the 2th tee during the second round of the Portugal Masters Golf Tournament in Vilamoura, on October 14, 2011. Kingston posted a six-under par 66 to lead the first round of the European PGA Championship on Thursday on a day of frustration for Rory McIlroy.

South Africa’s James Kingston posted a six-under par 66 to lead the first round of the European PGA Championship on Thursday on a day of frustration for Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy shot a two-over par 74, the same score as Graeme McDowell, whilst fellow Ryder Cup player Luke Donald, who has won the Wentworth event for the last two years, ended six-over and is in danger of missing the cut.

Paul Lawrie was a shot worse off and Ian Poulter collapsed to a four-over 76 on a day when the threat of lightning brought a 90-minute halt to the action.

But Sergio Garcia finally did his talking on the course after the racism row and war of words with Tiger Woods that marred the build-up to the European Tour’s flagship event.

The Spaniard holed a 25-foot putt for an eagle on the par-5 18th and signed for a level par round of 72 whilst Lee Westwood was two shots better off after coming home in 35, two-under.

Garcia was given a huge cheer on the first tee and a spell of three birdies in four holes on the front nine saw him move up the leaderboard before three bogeys hampered his progress before his final flourish.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen shot a five-under par 67, a stroke better than Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who was level with Scott Henry from Scotland, whilst Italy’s Matteo Manassero was round in 69 along with Thomas Bjorn and George Coetzee from South Africa

Austrian Martin Wiegele was four-under par, after three birdies on succession after the turn, with five holes left when play was suspended for the day due to darkness.

Kingston, 47, lost his card last season but after a consistent start to the season in South Africa showed some of the form that made him a two-time winner on the European Tour as he strung together four birdies in his final seven holes.

“You are not automatically invited into most of these events, so it’s tough to plan your schedule,” said Kingston.

“It takes one good week and things change so I am hoping to make the best of this week.

“You never expect to lose your card. I never felt like I played poorly enough last year to lose my card and that is what makes it more frustrating. I felt like I played half decent throughout the whole season but I never managed to put a score on the board.”

McIlroy found it a struggle despite his pre-tournament assertions that rumours of his imminent switch of management company would not hinder his game.

The Northern Irishman made five bogeys in six holes from the 14th whilst McDowell handed in the same score of 74 after a horrific double bogey seven on the last.

A frustrated McIlroy said: “It was tricky. The conditions obviously were not ideal so it is tough to shoot a low score out there. I felt I was doing well after the first 12 holes but I just let the round get away from me.

“In the first 12 holes I didn’t really miss a shot but I am not getting as much out of my rounds as I should do.”

Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, the winner in 2008, came back in 40 to finish four-over par.

Elsewhere former world number one Martin Kaymer finished with a 70, two-under par alongside Ireland’s Shane Lowry and England’s Oliver Fisher.

Garcia revealed that he had still not managed to get into contact with Woods following the row sparked by his comments at a tour dinner on Tuesday.

He said: “They are moving forward. If I manage to talk to him, perfect. If not I will definitely see him at the US Open and we can talk face to face.”