LEE Thompson is still in with a chance of exorcising his Wentworth demons after carding a three-over par 75 in the first round of the BMW Championship.

The Dudsbury professional put together a solid round that deserved a lower score, but a triple bogey seven at the par four eighth ended up as the only major blemish on his day's work.

Thompson told the Daily Echo: "I came right off my drive on seven, hit the tree, hit another bad one with my third into the water, chipped on and two-putted for a seven. I think I had a six on the same hole last year and was thinking 'here we go again'. But you have got to keep going - you just never know with this game."

The part-time taxi driver, who saw his chances of making last year's cut in the PGA's showcase event dashed with a second round nine at the par four 16th, had put himself in good position following a nervy start that saw him bogey the first hole. But he roared back in style on the par five fourth when he chipped in for an eagle three from the edge of the green.

Playing partner Lee Slattery had already holed his wedge shot from 120 yards for an eagle on the same hole and the third member of the group, Wade Ormsby, rolled in a birdie to leave the trio a remarkable five under par on one hole.

Thompson gave a shot back at the next before those two poor shots cost him dearly at the eighth.

But he recovered well after the disappointment and was unlucky not to register more than one birdie in a controlled back nine performance.

As it was, Thompson had to settle for one birdie on the 11th only to slip back to three under following a disappointing six up the last.

He said: "I started off terribly on the front nine - I just wasn't swinging the club very well. I hit a couple of bad shots on seven and made seven but then I started to play alright on the back nine.

"I had some good chances on the back nine but didn't make them and you need to knock them in really. I could easily have been three or four under on the back nine if I'd holed a few putts

"Then on the last two holes, when you're looking to finish four, four - I finished five, six. That was disappointing because I could easily have been at level."

However, the 33-year-old has vowed to be more aggressive in his second round today - on greens which are as speedy as ice rinks as he attempts to make the halfway cut at the third time of asking on the tough West Course.

Thompson said: "Realistic-ally, I am going to need to shoot two or three under to have a chance of making the cut. But I have decided to be much more aggressive on the greens. If I come out and hole a few putts, it could start happening for me.

"The greens are lightning quick and I think I was a bit afraid of them. It is so difficult to come here after playing on slow greens to then get the speed of them. But if I can knock a couple in early, we'll see."

Thompson has the far more civilised start time of 11.30am today after he was in the second group on the course at 7.10am on Thursday morning. Australian playing partner Ormsby posted an excellent 68, for a share of second, while Slattery is also in good shape after firing 70.