Rory McIlroy BREAKS a membership in dramatic BMW PGA Championship opener

Rory McIlroy coughed his guts up, broke a club mid-shot and putted backwards but somehow worked the tribulations of a strange day to his advantage. 

After one round at the BMW PGA Championship he is in strong contention.

By his estimation, the 67 he carded at Wentworth was the most incident-packed in his 16 years of contesting the DP World Tour’s flagship tournament, and the point was illuminated by a freak moment on the 12th hole.

McIlroy had motored to four under par by that stage when, with 179 yards to go on the par five, he played his second stroke and watched in astonishment as the head of his nine iron off flew off on impact and went bouncing down the fairway.

While the head had somehow unscrewed itself from the shaft, McIlroy’s ball fared better – it came to rest seven-feet from the cup and a two-putt birdie followed, before the club was pieced back together and returned to the world No 3 at the 16th.

Rory McIlroy was amazed as the head of his nine iron came off after a shot on the 12th hole

McIlroy said he didn’t think he had ‘ever had a club’s head fall off’ during his career

McIlroy carded 67 in his most incident-packed appearance of his career in the championship 

‘I’ve certainly broken a few clubs after golf shots, but I don’t remember when a head has fallen off on me (during a shot),’ he said.

‘I had hit my nine iron on the ninth hole, and it looked as if the barrel was coming loose, but it was actually the head detaching from the shaft. 

‘I obviously didn’t realise that when I hit the shot on 12. It was a bit of a weird feeling but thankfully the ball went where I wanted it to. It could have been a lot worse.’

McIlroy, who sits two off the seven-under-par lead held by Englishman Matthew Baldwin, has been dealing with a chest infection this week as he attempts to tighten his grip on the seasonal points list. 

A win here would carry him significantly closer to a sixth Race to Dubai victory in November – passing Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight is his stated target – and he made a rapid start with a streak of four birdies from the third before dropping a shot at the seventh.

It was on the eighth where he drew attention for using the reverse side of his putter, owing to awkward footing next to the greenside water, but having salvaged a par he moved into the lead on six under with birdies at nine, 12 and 13. 

McIlroy carded 67 in what was his most incident-packed appearance of his career in the championship

McIlroy joins Shane Lowry and Bob MacIntyre at five under – one ahead of Danny Willett

Matthew Baldwin, the world No 363, carded 65 to lead after the first round at Wentworth

His momentum stalled with a snap hook off the tee on the par-five 17, before bogeying the last, also a par five, after losing a wild approach into the trees.

‘It was a bit of a rollercoaster but most of the incidents worked out in my favour so I am happy,’ said McIlroy.

World No 363 Baldwin shot 65, with Niklas Norgaard of Denmark and Belgium’s Thomas Detry a stroke behind. Ryder Cup duo Shane Lowry and Bob MacIntyre joined McIlroy at five under, one ahead of Danny Willett, who is seeking to halt a run of five missed cuts.