“I imagine Ernie has more important things than golf on his mind,” said Dougherty. “He’s doing a lot for his son, raising autism awareness.”

The South African, seven times a winner of the World Match Play title on the course, spoke out about his five-year-old’s condition earlier this season and carries an “Autism Speaks” logo on his bag.

Wentworth has been the main family home for several years, but a Florida base has now been decided upon because of the treatment available there.

Els has also decided on a change of coach from David Leadbetter to Butch Harmon and has accepted it will take time to groove a new swing.

Darren Clarke is on the same three-over mark entering the second round, as is defending champion Anders Hansen, while Justin Rose, who lost a play-off to the Dane a year ago, and Retief Goosen needed an even bigger improvement after starting with four-over rounds of 76.

Lee Westwood, who leads the Ryder Cup points race, has even more work to do after a 77. You might not have guessed he was faring so poorly from television pictures of him smiling, but he explained afterwards: “I was seeing the funny side of not being able to hit the hole from three feet.”

Dougherty, playing only his second tournament since the death of his mother, recovered from two over to two under with four birdies in the last six holes.

The Liverpudlian was full of admiration for McGinley’s 65, which gave him a one-stroke lead over another member of the last Ryder Cup side, Swede Robert Karlsson.

“I like to be challenged with course management and ball control and when it’s playing hard and fast this is a real proper test of golf,” said McGinley.

“This is old-style. That is what the game was initially designed around and I revel in it.”

He is trying to become the first Irish winner of the title since Harry Bradshaw 50 years ago and on whether fate may have a say he commented: “Well, if you’re a Man United fan they believed on Wednesday night, didn’t they?”

McGinley is down in 33rd place in the Ryder Cup standings but with a first prize of nearly £600,000 on offer he could jump as high as sixth on Sunday night.

“It’s right in the back of my mind to be honest,” said the 2002 match-winner, whose three appearances have all seen European victories.

“I’ve got to have a helluva summer to make it. It’s not on the horizon. I’ve a few more hurdles to jump before I can think about Ryder Cup.”