VIRGINIA WATER, England — Europe’s 12 Ryder Cup gamers delivered a blended bag of scores within the first spherical of the BMW PGA Championship.

None of them had been higher than Marcus Helligkilde.

The No. 232-ranked Dane made seven birdies in a nine-hole stretch, then closed with three in a row to shoot an 8-under 64 and take a two-stroke lead on the DP World Tour’s flagship occasion on Thursday.

Of the Europeans heading to Rome for the Ryder Cup in two weeks, Matt Fitzpatrick (66), Ludvig Åberg (68) and Tyrrell Hatton (68) posted the perfect rounds at Wentworth.

Nicolai Hojgaard, who earned the ultimate decide of captain Luke Donald forward of Adrian Meronk, was on the different finish of the dimensions in capturing 76.

Then there have been Europe’s two massive weapons, No. 2-ranked Rory McIlroy and No. 3-ranked Jon Rahm, who labored their manner across the West Course and shot 72 and 71, respectively, on an excellent day on the European tour’s headquarters, the place the upcoming Ryder Cup remained a evident subplot.

“I think we are all a little bit in the Ryder Cup mindset,” stated No. 4-ranked Viktor Hovland, who will likely be one in all Donald’s key gamers at Marco Simone membership from Sept. 29-Oct. 1 and shot 69 in his first spherical at Wentworth.

“It is a little bit weird to have to have two thoughts going at the same time.”

Hovland performed in a heavyweight group containing McIlroy and Åberg, mixing two established stars with one other with {the golfing} world at his toes.

The teenager took the lead function.

Åberg, a 23-year-old Swede who turned professional in June and has already won on the European tour, confirmed as soon as once more that the hype round him is justified heading into his upcoming debut appearance in the Ryder Cup.

One dangerous swing value Åberg the possibility of a extremely low spherical. He pulled his tee shot out-of-bounds on the par-5 seventeenth gap, which he had reached at 5 beneath after rolling in 5 straight birdies beginning at No. 11.

A double-bogey at No. 17 didn’t derail Åberg, who made amends by enjoying the par-5 18th completely to faucet in for a seventh birdie of the day.

“It was really fun playing with those two guys,” Åberg stated. “Obviously the level of golf that they can do is pretty amazing and for me to watch that is pretty cool.

“I was kind of walking around and then almost pinched myself in the arm on the fairways but really enjoyed it, and proud of the way I handled it today.”

Rory McIlroy additionally known as Justin Thomas a “no-brainer” captain’s decide for the U.S. Ryder Cup staff

Hovland had a front-row seat to look at the man many imagine is golf’s subsequent massive factor.

“Ludvig was certainly on a heater mid-round and the crowd was loving it,” Hovland stated.

“He has not been a pro very long, but he certainly doesn’t look scared of the moment.”

Åberg, Hovland and McIlroy comprised one of many 4 teams made up solely of Ryder Cup gamers as Donald seems to be to construct some staff chemistry.

In one other setting out within the morning, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood each shot 69 alongside Sepp Straka (70).

Fitzpatrick, who went out with Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose (each 72), performed the perfect of the Ryder Cup squad after beginning with 4 birdies in his first six holes. He curled in a birdie putt on the final from 18 toes to affix Richie Ramsay in a tie for second place.

“I’m here to try to win this week,” Fitzpatrick stated. “I’ll start focusing on the Ryder Cup once Sunday finishes.”

They are all chasing the 26-year-old Helligkilde, who’s coming to the tip of his second season on the DP World Tour.

His sizzling streak of early birdies started on the fourth gap, with two of them — on Nos. 5 and seven — being tap-ins from inside 2 toes. He made birdie putts from 10 and 12 toes on Nos. 16 and 17, earlier than getting up-and-down from simply off the again of the 18th for a tenth birdie.

Helligkilde stated he was hitting it “terrible” on the vary.

“I asked (my coach), ‘What should I do?’” he stated, “and he’s like, ‘Yeah, you’re probably going to play great.’ So that was what happened.”