• BMW Masters, Round One

Donaldson dazzles as McIlroy lurks

Precision: Jamie Donaldson was in sizzling form in Shanghai © Getty Images

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BMW Masters Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood were put in the shade as Jamie Donaldson stormed ahead in the first round of the BMW Masters.

Eleven of the twelve members of the victorious Europe Ryder Cup team were in action at Lake Malaren Golf Club but they were all eclipsed by Donaldson, a player seeking high finishes to get in the world's top 50.

And he is well on track to achieve that after a fabulous course record of 62. Donaldson made the breakthrough at the Irish Open this year and confident he can now cut it at the top level, he took what looked a difficult track to pieces.

Donaldson began with a birdie three on the first and it set the tone for a flawless 18 holes, adding nine further birdies, in a round of 10-under.

Such was the quality of Donaldson's play, he will take a four-shot lead into the second round.

Europe Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal showed the majority of his charges how to plot round the Shanghai track as he carded a 67. The Spaniard, whose form fluctuates depending on the state of his suspect back, was in excellent nick and stroked in five birdies.

Between Olazabal and leader Donaldson are two members of the Ryder Cup team, with Francesco Molinari and Peter Hanson signing for impressive rounds of 66.

The marquee group saw McIlroy joined by Lee Westwood and Justin Rose. As has so often been the case that it is becoming frustrating to write about it, Westwood played quite beautifully but time and again left makeable putts above ground in his round of 70. And after missing a putt for a par on 17 he tossed his ball into the water in disgust.

Rose and McIlroy were a shade inconsistent but were still able to produce enough chances to both put their names on the leaderboard at four-under and five-under respectively.

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