Self-confessed hot head Danny Willett produced a sizzling display on his PGA Championship debut Thursday, squeezing nine birdies in a six-under 65 to lead after the first round. The 22-year-old Briton, a former Walker Cup teammate of world No. 9 Rory McIlroy, was one stroke ahead of Australian Richard Green. Sharing third place on 67 in the European Tour's flagship event were British trio Ross Fisher, Richie Ramsay and Steve Webster and India's SSP Chowrasia. Willett made a fast start under cloudless skies at Wentworth, reeling off five birdies in seven holes on the way to an outward 31. The young Englishman continued to make light of the new, toughened-up West Course with a dynamic birdie hat trick from the 16th. “The greens are a bit slow compared to past years and I holed quite a few putts,” Willett told reporters. “They are rolling really well with the new grass down and if you get a good pace you can hole them well.” Willett said he had been excitable since his days as a brilliant young amateur but was starting to improve his behavior thanks to coach Graham Walker and caddie Malcolm Mason. “I am a bit hot-headed,” he said. “I'm fairly giddy all the time. Maybe not playing as good as I feel I should ... gets me a bit hot under the collar. “But working with Malcolm and Graham, we have come out of that quite a bit. It's getting better.” Willett enjoyed a good rookie campaign last year, registering eight top-10s. He has maintained that form this season by finishing in a tie for fourth place at the Joburg Open, sixth in the Malaysian Open and joint seventh at the Hassan II Trophy in Morocco. While the little-known Willett was feasting on the new-look West Course, some of the bigger names endured something of a famine. World No. 6 Ian Poulter slumped to a seven-over 78, ninth-ranked McIlroy carded a 74 and German Martin Kaymer had a 76. Ernie Els, who masterminded the changes, opened with a 69 while Padraig Harrington had an ugly eight at the 17th on the way to a level-par 71. World No. 3 Lee Westwood criticized the alterations after his 70. “If you're going to spend a lot of money on changes it would be nice to get them right first time round,” he said. Westwood cited Augusta National, venue of the US Masters, as an example of change for the better.
