Luke Donald takes control with sizzling 64 at Wentworth

Donald mastered the wet and windy conditions at the West Course at Wentworth to equal his lowest European Tour round. He made a run of five birdies in seven holes from the fourth onwards, then made three more which were offset by a single bogey.

"That was probably one of the best rounds I've ever played," Donald said. "It was tough conditions out there. The wind was swirling. There were some rain showers, and this isn't an easy course in the best of conditions. So to pretty much have total control of the golf ball today doesn't happen very often in golf, but that's how I felt today. I was just seeing the shots and was able to hit them.

"The goal is to try and win this event and, if I finish ahead of Lee, then great," he added.

The Englishman needs to outperform Westwood to take top spot. He has already missed out on two opportunities this season, losing to Brandt Snedeker in a play-off at The Heritage in April and going down to Ian Poulter in the final of the World Match Play event in Spain last weekend.

Donald has had trouble closing out strokeplay tournaments, having won only one in the past five years. He has, however, picked up the Accenture Match Play title in Arizona in February as part of eight straight top-ten finishes in a remarkable run of consistency.

"Top tens are nice but winning is what's important," said Donald, who had previously shot a 64 on the European Tour three times. "I thought anything under par was going to be a good round - one, two under was going to be a solid round. I certainly didn't expect to come out here and shoot seven under."

Westwood made a double-bogey after a penalty drop at the sixth to go with two bogeys in a 72. He then had to undergo a random doping test but joked the testers had the wrong man.

"They should drug-test Luke after a 64. I can't quite figure that one out. It's a very good score," he said, before criticising his own form on the greens.

"When the longest putt you hole is five feet, you're going to struggle to shoot seven under in these kind of conditions, which is really the story of the day for me."

Matteo Manassero of Italy, who became the youngest winner on the European Tour at 17 years, 188 days last October, shot a 66 to tie for second with Johan Edfors of Sweden.

English pair Ross McGowan and Poulter and Bradley Dredge of Wales all shot 68s, one stroke ahead of a group that included winning European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.

Montgomerie, the champion in 1998, '99 and 2000 who is now ranked No 462 in the world, found some of his old form by holing birdies at three of the first four holes to reach the turn in 30. But five bogeys on the back nine ruined his brilliant start.His seven birdies ensured he still matched his best round of the season, and Montgomerie is well placed to make his first top-ten finish in more than two years. "In certain ways, it's disappointing to only finish two under after that start, a flying start. But at the same time, it is tricky. Anybody that breaks 70 today has done extremely well," said Montgomerie. Rory McIlroy continued his disappointing form as he shot a 76, following on from his group-stage exit at the World Match Play.

USPGA champion Martin Kaymer, who also has a chance to become No 1, shot a 74 while playing partner Charl Schwartzel, the Masters champion, had double bogeys at the third and fifth before signing for a 79.

Jose Maria Olazabal was one of three players to pull out. A back problem forced his exit after seven holes as he joined Robert-Jan Derksen (rib) and Paul Waring (hand) in withdrawing.