Dane Bjerregaard leads with McIlroy ready to pounce

WENTWORTH, United Kingdom: Rory McIlroy looked to have shrugged off his recent indifferent form as he shot a 67 at the PGA Championship on Thursday to sit two shots behind leader Lucas Bjerregaard of Denmark.

The 29-year-old four-time major winner, who is also one adrift of unheralded South African duo Dean Burmester and Darren Fichardt, believes he has established a platform to go on and win the title for a second time.

Indeed he might well have been at least tied for second but for a photographer distracting him on the par five 18th when he was taking his second shot and looking for a birdie opportunity.“If you start to chase it here it can bite you,” said Northern Ireland star McIlroy.

“The course is fairer than it was and I feel comfortable with my game.”Bjerregaard looks well set to make the cut in the tournament for the first time after a sparkling round reflecting his recent run of good form which has seen him finish in the top ten in successive events.

Burmester and Fichardt had both lit up the first part of the day posting six under 66s.Burmester had a quiet outward nine but then produced four birdies and an eagle in the last seven holes whilst Fichardt didn’t play like a man who had missed the cut at the tournament on the past seven occasions, posting three birdies apiece on the outward and homeward nine.

Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat looked set to be the overnight leader as he lay at seven under approaching the final two holes but disaster struck with him dropping three shots.A more surprising name up near the top is Englishman Richard Bland who had made the cut in just two of his 10 tournaments this season but he recorded a fine five under 67 for his best round since January.

The 45-year-old, who has yet to win a tournament in his 22 years as a professional, came home strongly with three birdies in the last four holes and giving him and his family a welcome reason to smile after a tough start to the year.

Some of the higher profile players failed to sparkle primarily Ryder Cup veteran Ian Poulter who early on shared some good natured banter with playing partner and last year’s Race To Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood.However, the smile had disappeared from Poulter’s face by the time he walked off the 18th at two over par.