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McIlroy opens BMW PGA Championship with 71, 4 shots behind Karlsson

Reuters / Paul Childs

VIRGINIA WATER, England - Rory McIlroy opened the defense of his BMW PGA Championship title on Thursday with a 1-under 71 that left him four strokes behind clubhouse leader Robert Karlsson.

McIlroy says ''I felt like I left a couple of shots out there'' and that ''I did not do anything that good and there is definitely room for improvement over the next few days.''

The top-ranked golfer in the world added:

Physically I am all right. I got back to my hotel at 4.30 p.m. (on Wednesday) and did not leave it until 6.30 a.m. this morning - but mentally I could feel myself getting a little angry out there.

Acceptance of bad shots is the thing I have been doing so well and I feel like my patience was wearing a bit thin today. I felt I was standing still at one-under but looking at the leaderboard it was not so bad.

Karlsson made six birdies for a round of 67. The Swede birdied two of the final three holes to take the overall lead.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jorge Campillo and Chris Wood were a shot back on 4-under.

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