Maybin well in the hunt

GARETH MAYBIN played the 17th and18th in yesterday’s first round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in eight shots.

Pádraig Harrington needed 13 for the same two holes and that’s why the little-known Ulsterman leads the eleven-strong Irish challenge for the €750,000 first prize at three under par and three times major champion Harrington is tied for 46th on level par.

It would have needed a genius to predict the leaderboard at the end of play last night. Danny Willett, six under, is followed by Australian Richard Green at five under, with Scot Richie Ramsay, Indian SSP Chowrasia, England’s Steve Webster and last year’s runner-up Ross Fisher of the host club all on four under.