GOLF/BMW Championship: If you knock often and loud on the door, you figure someone's got to answer. At least, that's what Peter Lawrie wishes would happen; and, yesterday, in the first round of the BMW Championship over the West Course that has undergone some nip-n-tuck surgery to beef it up, the Dubliner stealthily manoeuvred his way into contention in the European Tour's flagship tournament.

Now 32, Lawrie has reached a stage in his career where he has learnt his craft and is now ready to take the next step: to win. He hasn't managed that since he graduated to the full Tour four years ago.

"Hopefully I can click out of third gear and push it into fourth and progress," said Lawrie, who opened with a 68, four-under, a shot behind the four joint leaders.

It was a no-nonsense round in which he found 85 per cent of fairways, hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation and required 28 putts to get into the mix. It was, indeed, a round typical of the consistency that has become a part of his game in recent months.

"You know, I played a few holes in practice with Peter last week and he is a very tidy player," said Padraig Harrington. "I just couldn't understand how he doesn't get himself into contention more. Now he's done it."

Of the eight Irish players in the field, Lawrie led the way. The only other player to dip below par was Graeme McDowell, who birdied his last two holes, for a 71.

Harrington shot a level-par 72, while Darren Clarke signed for a 73 after having a one-stroke penalty imposed after his round for a curious incident on the 13th green.

Only last Monday Clarke had showed his integrity in the final round of the Irish Open at Carton House when he returned after the previous day's suspension in play to find his ball in a much improved lie in rough off the ninth hole. But he played the shot back to the fairway as he would have done with the poorer lie, and eventually finished third.

Yesterday, Clarke accidentally let the ball slip from his hand on the 13th green as he prepared to replace his ball. The ball flipped the marker and, on calling a referee, he was told there was no penalty. Clarke replaced the coin, and then holed out for what he thought was a par.

However, on finishing his round, Clarke mentioned the incident to chief referee John Paramor, who informed the Northerner that there was a one-shot penalty under decision 20-1/15 on the rules of golf because the marker was hit while not in the specific act of replacing the ball.

Yesterday a number of tees were pushed forward so that the course, softened by heavy overnight rain and playing extremely long, wouldn't overwhelm players. Lawrie, who is by no means among the biggest hitters on tour, exploited the opportunity, though at times it was still hard work.

"I've worn out my three-, four- and five-irons. There's no short irons into greens on this golf course any more," he said.

Lawrie, importantly, avoided any disasters, with his only dropped shot coming at the seventh where he pitched his approach to the top of the slope and watched from the fairway as it spun back to the front of the green. He proceeded to three-putt, his first indiscretion with the putter having single-putted the first six greens (including three birdies, at the second, fourth and fifth).

In a tidy demonstration over the back nine, Lawrie hit every fairway and found every green in regulation. But despite giving himself so many chances, only two birdie putts dropped, on the 12th, where he chipped stone dead, and the 18th, from five feet.

All in all, it was a satisfactory day's work. The reality, though, is that tournaments are not won on a Thursday, and Lawrie hasn't savoured what it takes to win a tournament since he claimed the Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2002, which helped him clinch his full Tour card. In his three full years on tour, he has finished 56th, 89th and 53rd in the money list, and is 56th in this year's Order of Merit.

So, what will it take to win?

"You'd think the "X" factor is always the run of the ball, the breaks that you get here or there. Instead of hopping into a bunker, the ball hops on to the green. Instead of lipping out, it lips in. Those kind of things," said Lawrie.

In fact, should he secure a win on the European Tour, and this championship would not be a bad place to start, Lawrie would consider setting his sights on playing in America. "If you could win out on Tour, you get a two-year exemption which would mean I'd definitely give the American tour school a shot," claimed Lawrie.

McDowell, who has been dividing his time between America and Europe this season, shot a 71 despite suffering problems on the greens.

"I am still making some sloppy mistakes and just not putting well enough to gain any real momentum," he said. "My putter has been off the boil for a couple of weeks now. I was happy to hang in there. I feel like my game is clicking over nicely and I just need to get some more putts in the hole and I will be there or thereabouts."

One thing's for sure, there is much to play for over the next three days. For Lawrie, ranked 252nd in the world. For McDowell. For everyone.