Irish pair in hot pursuit as Hedblom sets pace

THE Irish takeover of the £4m BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth continues apace.

Even though 35-year-old Swede Peter Hedblom, ranked 240 in the world, swept into a three-shot halfway lead last night, seven Irishmen stand their ground with most fancying their chances of departing tomorrow night with the first prize of £666,660. Hedblom's 65 jumped him up to 11 under, but the Irish are in strong pursuit.

On Thursday, it was Graeme McDowell and Peter Lawrie sharing the top of the leaderboard at five under par. And as this pair slipped down the list yesterday, along came Paul McGinley with a superb 64, just one outside the course record, to set the early pace on eight under.