| -8 K Aphibarnrat (Tha), C Bezuidenhout (SA) –7 A Scott (Aus) -5 J Rose (Eng), L Canter (Eng), M Kawamura (Jpn) -4 M Jimenez (Spa), P Larrazabal (Spa), J Luiten (Ned) |
| Selected others:-2 S Lowry (Ire), D Willett (Eng), A Rai (Eng), S Brown (Eng) L Westwood (Eng) |
England’s Justin Rose carded a bogey-free 67 to lie joint fourth on five under after the opening round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat and South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout share the lead on eight under with Australian Adam Scott one stroke behind.
Rose is yet to qualify for this month’s Ryder Cup against the United States at Whistling Straits and is out to impress Europe captain Padraig Harrington.
“All eyes are on me now,” he said.
England’s Laurie Canter and Masahiro Kawamura of Japan share fourth place with Rose on five under.
Former world number one Rose would have to win this week’s tournament to guarantee himself one of the nine automatic spots on the European team with qualification ending after this tournament.
However, Harrington will make three wildcard picks on Sunday to complete the 12-strong team heading to Wisconsin for the 43rd Ryder Cup from 24-26 September.
Europe are the defending champions, having won at Le Golf National in France in 2018. They have won nine of the previous 12 Ryder Cups.
He added: “That is a good start where I can focus on the positive scenario, which is me winning the tournament to get into the team by right.
“That is obviously plan A, then plan B is all of the other stuff. I didn’t actually appreciate how many scenarios were still in play this week with so many players, so there’s a lot to shake out obviously over the next few days.”
Ireland’s Shane Lowry, 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett and Lee Westwood all finished on two under par.
