Rory McIlroy’s strong opening round of 67 belied what was an eventful Thursday at the BMW PGA Championship. Unable to take a stance near a hazard on the eighth green, he swatted a putt left-handed. Trying to take advantage of back-to-back par 5s to close, he hit a violent snap hook off the 17 th tee.

The head of Rory McIlroy's 8-iron flew off down the par-5 12th in the first round of the BMW PGA at Wentworth, but the World No.3 still went on to make a birdie.

On Friday, the No. 363-ranked journeyman from England was the second-round leader by two strokes at the flagship event on the European tour and preparing himself for the biggest weekend of his career.

England's Matthew Baldwin eclipsed a powerful field to lead the BMW PGA Championship by one stroke after the first round at Wentworth on Thursday. Baldwin signed for a seven-under round of 65 to top the leaderboard from Denmark's Niklas Norgaard and Belgium's Thomas Detry who carded six-under rounds.

Rory McIlroy produces excellent opening to third round at BMW PGA Championship to put himself right in contention for £1.15million prize

Here are the BMW PGA Championship Round 3 tee times as Rory McIlroy remains in the hunt to take home another title.