Hot-headed Danny Willett keeps his cool to finally get one over Rory McIlroy

He said: "I'm a bit hot-headed and I'm fairly giddy all the time. I sometimes get hot under the collar when I'm not playing as well as I can.

"But I've had a steady year and a half now and quite a few top 10s and a good stroke average but I want to press and get into contention a few more times.

"I'd be lying if I did not say I'd like a win to keep up with Rory. I'm always trying to win every week I come out."

Fisher, meanwhile, insisted his fine first-round score had nothing to do with his local knowledge. The 29-year-old has been a member of the club for 16 years and has played hundreds of rounds on the West Course.

The Englishman had an incredible nine birdies in the remodelled track and said: "It was obviously very pleasing. I have felt like my game has been there for a very long time but I've just really struggled to hole any putts."

A great deal has been made of the 18th hole this week and Fisher, like a number of other professionals here, felt it should not have been changed.

Ernie Els and Wentworth Club chairman Richard Caring have made some radical changes, including adding a small burn to the final hole.

Long-hitting Fisher claims the adjustment has robbed him of the chance to reach the green in two and argues it will lessen the drama for spectators.

He added: "Local knowledge goes out of the window a little bit and 18 is the most talked-about hole here.

"I wanted to try and make four the hard way and that was my decision at the start of the week.

"It's very tempting to go for it because I'm quite a big hitter and I've a history of going for par-fives in two. That is one of my strengths but it has been taken away because that hole is so tricky. I prefer how it was before."

Ironically, course designer Els was penalised by his own alterations, as he found the water on the 18th with his second shot.

The South African was heading for an unblemished scorecard until he found the trouble to finish on two-under 69.

He said: "I'd been hitting the ball well all morning and it was a perfect little five-wood but I just dragged it."

Ryder Cup star Soren Hansen had 24 hours to forget after his first-round collapse. The Dane had earlier been ordered to pay a fine of more than £750,000 for tax evasion by the Copenhagen City Court.

The world No58, a member of Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup side two years ago, claimed he was living in Monaco during 2002 and 2006.

However, the Danish court ruled he actually lived in Denmark and was avoiding paying taxes.

The 36-year-old got off to a flying start and posted birdies at the third, fourth, sixth and 11th holes but then slumped to finish one over.