Rory McIlroy states the mistake he’s stopped making at Wentworth after great start at the BMW PGA Championship

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Rory McIlroy has seemingly shaken off his Irish Open heartbreak after a fine opening round at the BMW PGA Championship.

McIlroy doesn’t feel like he lost the Irish Open at Royal County Down, but rather that champion Rasmus Hojgaard won it.

The Northern Ireland ace finished second to the Dane last week, and has continued that form into Wentworth.

McIlroy paired with Gareth Bale in the BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am, before lining out alongside Justin Rose and Ryan Fox in round one of the main event.

And the world number three finished that round at Wentworth in tied-third with five others, having carded a five-under 67.

Rory McIlroy has stopped making the same mistake at Wentworth

McIlroy has now discussed his opening round on the West Course at Wentworth, which was redesigned by Ernie Els.

“I have finally embraced what this golf course asks of you,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. “My first few years here I tried to overpower it and hit too many drivers and tried to push the ball up the fairway too much.

READ MORE: Wentworth Golf Club: A look at the European Ryder Cup headquarters and iconic BMW PGA Championship venue

“Especially after Ernie re-did it in 2011 [editor’s note, the course design was actually in 2010] I think that’s when I started to play the course a little bit better because I just accepted the fact that you are probably going to have to put it in the same position as the rest of the field and rely on your irons and wedges from there. Just trying to not force it has been a big key to why I have played well here since then.”

Can Rory McIlroy power through to win the BMW PGA Championship?

McIlroy can be proud of his start at the BMW PGA Championship, although the high scoring may slightly worry him.

Niklas Norgaard finished his first round one shot ahead of the Northern Irishman, with the likes of Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre joining McIlroy on five under.

Still, the four-time major champion is in a fantastic position, although it is very early days in the latest DP World Tour event.

READ MORE: Who is Rory McIlroy? A closer look at one of the greatest golfers of all time

Moreover, poor final rounds may already be playing on his mind, with McIlroy having endured nightmare showings in the latter stages of the Irish Open and the US Open.

At the same time, however, those near misses should be constantly spurring him on to clinch more silverware and finally end any doubts over his abilities, not that there should be any.