Adam Scott is well positioned to add to his major tally after taking a share of the first-round lead with Jim Furyk at the US PGA Championship. Scott, the world No.5, took the outright lead after a birdie at the par-four 14th, his round set up by five-straight birdies from the fourth to the eighth holes. American Furyk also mixed six birdies with a bogey in his 65, closing with birdies at 16 and 18 to take the clubhouse lead before Scott joined him. Scott won his first major title in April at Augusta National to become the first Australian winner of the Masters&apos green jacket. Canadian David Hearn and Englishman Lee Westwood are tied at four-under, while favourite Tiger Woods slumped to one over following a double bogey at the ninth hole. Woods, a 14-time major winner, sits six shots back with a significant task on his hands if he is to end a major drought dating back to 2008. Woods started well after his World Golf Championships win last week, birdying the 13th and 15th, with an eight-foot birdie putt. But the world number one found trouble on the front nine, with a bogey at four and double-bogey at nine. Australians Jason Day and Marcus Fraser are in a group of six, four shots ahead of Woods, at three under, alongside Americans Robert Garrigus, Matt Kuchar, Scott Piercy, as well as Englishman Paul Casey. Fraser overcame bogeys on the first two holes to streak up the leaderboard with five birdies, while Day finished strongly with birdies at 11 and 14. Defending champion Rory McIlroy finished at one under with a 69 to put himself in contention, while British Open champion Phil Mickelson overcame a horror start and a double bogey at 18, to post a one-over 71. Of the rest of the Australian contingent, Marc Leishman sits in a tie for 36th after an even-par 70 along with Brett Rumford, while John Senden and Matt Jones are at two over.
Author: Omnisport