John Bickerton made a great start to the 2008 season in South Africa

John Bickerton overcame a rib injury to card a four-over-par 76 in the first round of the PGA at Wentworth.

After a birdie at the second, Bickerton then immediately dropped one at three, double bogeyed the ninth and made two further bogeys on the back nine.

Having picked up a rib injury during last week's Irish Open, he told BBC Hereford and Worcester he had thought he would have to miss out this week.

"I hurt my rib but fortunately it was not as bad as I thought," he said.