VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 22 (UPI) -- A 7-under-par 65 Thursday helped Paul McGinley to a one-stroke lead after the first 18 holes at the BMW PGA Championship in Virginia Water, England.
The native of Dublin, Ireland, needed to make six birdies on the last 10 holes to capture his first 18-hole lead in more than six years.
The first round was so competitive that seven players are within the top spot on the leader board.
"Obviously I'm thrilled with that," McGinley said. "I've struggled most of the year with average first rounds and the standard is so high on the European Tour now you seem to get behind very quickly if you do that -- I'm just thrilled more than anything to get off to a good start."
Sweden's Robert Karlsson is alone in second at 6-under 66.
At 5-under 67, Marcus Fraser and Louis Oosthuizen share third and three others are tied for fifth at 4-under 68.
