Donaldson Fires 62 at BMW Masters


Welshman Jamie Donaldson carded a 10-birdie 62 to forge a four-stroke lead after 18 holes of the BMW Masters. The European Tour event began Thursday at Lake Malaren Golf Club near Shanghai, China.

Donaldson, who just turned 37, posted five birdies on the front nine and five more on the back. "It's up there with the best rounds I've ever shot," he told reporters. "The golf course is no pushover by any stretch of the imagination."

Sharing second after 66s are Peter Hanson of Sweden and Italy's Francesco Molinari, two members of the victorious European Ryder Cup team.

Five strokes behind Donaldson are Michael Hoey, Jose Maria Olazabal and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy; the latter two were also big contributors to Europe's Ryder Cup win at Medinah.

"Jamie has shot 10 under, which is phenomenal scoring, and I was just happy to stay somewhere within touching distance," said McIlroy.

As for his Ryder Cup ties on the leaderboard, the 23-year-old Northern Irishman noted, "Ollie's name on the board was nice to see. A few weeks ago 12 individuals came together as part of the team and now we're back playing and trying to beat one another."

Posting 68s were David Horsey, Edoardo Molinari, Alexander Noren, Martin Kaymer, Louis Oosthuizen and Justin Rose. Kaymer and Rose also played for Europe, as did Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Scot Paul Lawrie, who posted 69s, with England's Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald all shooting 2-under 70s.

For complete scoring, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012082/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y.