Oldcorn on old stomping ground

Andrew Oldcorn could not be happier to be back at Wentworth, scene of the biggest win of his life.

The 45-year-old, who captured the 2001 Volvo PGA Championship, today starts the second round of the renamed BMW Championship only one behind leaders Graeme McDowell, Peter Lawrie and Jose-Filipe Lima.

“Whenever I walk into this spot something just changes inside me,” he said.

“There’s no hiding it’s been a tough start to the year for me, but every bit that’s been missing was there when I teed off here – concentration, attitude, good golf.

“It’s just a special place to me. Even prior to winning I always liked it here. I just feel so comfortable and at my age, when you’ve played so many golf tournaments and so many golf courses, you need something to get your juices going.”

Oldcorn has played only six events this year, missing the cut in five of them and withdrawing from the other.

Last week he bowed out early again with a 78 at the Irish Open on the Colin Montgomerie-designed Carton House and comments: “That was just a slog for me. This is a pure shot-maker’s course. That’s the way I grew up and it’s the way I like to play golf.

“I don’t like to stand on the tee and you know you have to hit the ball 270 yards through the air over a bunker to remain on the fairway.

“I’m not going to go into the reasons I haven’t played so well, but as Clive Dunn (of “Dad’s Army” fame) says: ‘Don’t panic’.”

That was also the approach of some of the tournament’s leading lights after slightly disappointing openings.

Favourite Ernie Els resumes this afternoon on one over par, while Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Luke Donald had four strokes to make up on the leading trio, Lee Westwood five and Padraig Harrington three.

Lawrie was the European tour’s Rookie of the Year in 2003, but is still seeking his first victory, while McDowell has been going through a frustrating time since his brilliant second place on the US Tour’s Bay Hill Invitational in March.

Lima, who has switched his allegiance from France to Portugal this year, needed treatment on his back before yesterday’s first round.

“The physio guys did good work,” he said. “Scott Drummond won last year and he was a rookie, so why not me this year?”