Shane Lowry has made a solid start to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The Offaly man has carded a 68 in his opening round to sit on 4-under, two shots off the lead.

Consecutive bogeys on the 8th and 9th holes were the only blemish on his opening day's efforts as he managed six birdies in all, with three in a row on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes.

Sweden's Johan Carlsson leads the way on 6-under after carding a 66.

He holds a one shot lead over a three way tie for second made up of Italy's Francesco Molinari, Scotland's Scott Jamieson and Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Lowry is one shot behind that group alongside English golfer Graeme Storm, who won the BMW South Africa Open earlier this year by beating Rory McIlroy in a playoff, and South Africa's Branden Grace among others.

The other Irish in action are Damien McGrane who is on 1-under at present, while three time major winner Padraig Harrington carded a 73 to sit out 1-over. The Dubliner's low point came with a double bogey on the 17th, although he did manage three birdies in a tournament that is seeing him ease back into action following neck surgery.

Darren Clarke is also on 1-over.